LEADERS Chelmsford secured a narrow win at South Woodham Ferrers in a hard-fought derby.
Having suffered a narrow defeat on the road the previous weekend, Woodham were fully focused and motivated for the game and this was evident from the kick-off when they forced a lineout.
A catch and drive saw second-row James Wilson cross the line for the first score of the match and, with the try converted by Jack Reeve, Woodham went into an early 7-0 lead.
Conditions were very muddy underfoot but both teams were trying to play flowing rugby. Woodham were penalised, just inside their own half, for not releasing in the tackle and Simon Hoult successfully kicked from 45 metres to take the score to 7-3.
A period of good open play followed with Woodham pressuring the Chelmsford defence, which held out against strong scrumaging and rolling mauls.
The pressure finally told when prop David Langley took a ball from a long lineout throw and then, after a couple of phases of play, picked it up from the bottom of a ruck to crash over for the second try. The conversion missed, the score moved on to 12-3.
Chelmsford were competing hard in the middle of the park in an attempt to get back into the game and they were soon awarded a penalty, on the ten-metre line in front of the posts. But, to the surprise of both sets of supporters, it was missed.
Both sides were evenly matched in the scrum and with high levels of intensity being shown all around the park it was an evenly matched and hard-fought game when Michael Guest was sin-binned.
The second half started with the same intensity as the first had finished.
A penalty, just inside the Woodham half, awarded to Chelmsford for turning the scrum, was converted by Hoult to make the score 12-6.
With both sides putting everything into their play, Woodham were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts, which Reeve missed.
The heavy, sticky, strength-sapping conditions were beginning to take their toll on both sides, with play mainly confined to the middle of the pitch.
Then, after a passage of Chelmsford pressure, a solo run from full-back Jamie Ash through a mêlée of players saw Chelmsford score under the posts.
With the try converted by Hoult, Chelmsford went ahead 13-12 ahead for the first time in the match.
Strong Chelmsford pressure resulted in another penalty, which Hoult struck against the crossbar, quickly followed by another, which he then scored to take it to 16-12.
With only a few minutes left on the clock, Woodham went all-out to try to win the match and their pressure was rewarded with a penalty, which was missed.
Both teams have a winter break, and return to action on Saturday, January 10.
Chelmsford play host to Braintree, while Woodham travel to Basildon.
