CHELMSFORD have won local bragging rights after this fine win over neighbours Braintree on Saturday.
First blood went to Braintree after 21 minutes in the form of a successful penalty kick following a decision of a Chelmsford player being off his feet at the breakdown.
The hosts struck back quickly after 24 minutes when Chelmsford scored a well taken try by prop Adam Ferrier following some coherent ball carrying work by the Chelmsford pack and fly-half Simon Hoult converted.
Braintree responded and closed the deficit to one point when they successfully kicked another penalty as a Chelmsford player was adjudged not to have rolled away from the tackle area.
With the score at 7-6 to the home side, a period of play followed where both teams wrestled for superiority of possession and tried to exert pressure around the fringes.
Chelmsford were able to narrowly extend their slender lead in the 34th minute when Hoult successfully kicked a penalty after a Braintree player was penalised for going over the top and not staying on his feet at the breakdown. Half-time score was 10-6.
The second half again saw first blood to Braintree after 47 minutes when the Chelmsford backline was adjudged offside and the visitors successfully converted the kick.
This seemed to galvanise the home side and thereafter followed an impressive period of play where the much improved Chelmsford set pieces started to produce good ball which was looked after and used well to put sustained pressure on the opposition.
With Hoult accruing another penalty kick on 60 minutes for a Braintree forward's infringement, the score moved on to 13-9.
Some astute field kicking by Hoult kept the Braintree side pegged back into their half and a prolonged period of concerted pressure was rewarded in the 78th minute by a well deserved try by Chelmsford number eight Paul Redford following a drive close to the Braintree line.
The subsequent conversion by Simon Hoult put the result beyond doubt with a final score of 20-9 to the home side.
Chelmsford coach Eddie Gooby said: "After a below par performance last week, I was really pleased by the way the players applied themselves today. We always knew this would be a tough game.
"Our defensive work was great and not conceding a try gave me particular pleasure.
"The squad is being tested with a number of injuries at the moment but we have greater strength in depth this season and we will be pushing the players to move onwards with greater confidence away at Old Streetonians this Saturday."
