London 2 North - Enfield 52 Chelmsford 27

CHELMSFORD visited high-flyers Enfield and, despite the score line which flattered the hosts somewhat, both sides played their part in a highly entertaining game.

However, a series of mistakes and wrong options in back play cost Chelmsford dearly and, coupled with the fact that some of the referring decisions went against them, then this was not to be their day.

Sasu Wihapu had a chance to put Chelmsford into the lead after 10 minutes of play when Enfield were penalised for blocking a player, but his kick hit the cross bar.

After 15 minutes Enfield scored their first try when they ran the ball from their own line and were held up just short of the line.

Chelmsford managed to recycle the ball, but a sliced clearance kick, which was not followed up by the visitors, allowed right wing Tan Mbonu to pick up the ball and run unchallenged to the line for a soft, converted try.

Chelmsford did hit back when from a scrum full back Nick Hankin came into the line and he broke the cover defence to score an unconverted try.

Ten minutes later another mistake from Chelmsford from a misdirected pass resulted in Enfield scoring their second try through Mbonu.

Minutes later Chelmsford were allowed advantage from an Enfield infringement. But no advantage was gained, and when Chelmsford threw out a long speculative pass which was picked up by centre, Sam Emery, the referee let play go on whilst all the players around him on both sides stood still.

To the visitors’ amazement the score was awarded and Chelmsford found themselves 21-5 down.

Just before the break they managed to claw a score back when scrum half Alun Harris dummied his way over the line for a converted try.

Dean Lester, who was suffering from blurred vision, was replaced by Dan Perkins at half time and Enfield started the second half strongly.

Chelmsford were unable to get their hands on the ball during this period and not surprisingly Enfield scored a well-worked try.

In the space of two minutes the home side scored their fifth try when wing Mbonu completed his hat trick.

Chelmsford made a double substitution, with back row Paul Redford and centre John West coming on for Josh Clarke and Dan Trayler, and launched a comeback.

First scrum half Harris, kicked ahead and following a good drive from prop, Angus Macdonald, Matt Atkinson was on hand to score to reduce the arrears to 33–17.

Then Harris broke from a scrum and he slipped the ball to Paul Redford for 33–22.

The home side then scored three further tries in the last nine minutes through full back Tom Price, Dannan O’ Meachair and Sam Clarke, to bring the score to 52 –22.

Hankin was rewarded with his second try of the match in the final minute.