Saffron Walden RFC 29 Chelmsford 11 Saffron Walden Rugby Club secured a convincing victory over Chelmsford on Saturday in London Three North East. With the wind in their favour Walden played most of the first period in the Chelmsford half and they took t

Saffron Walden RFC 29 Chelmsford 11

Saffron Walden Rugby Club secured a convincing victory over Chelmsford on Saturday in London Three North East.

With the wind in their favour Walden played most of the first period in the Chelmsford half and they took the lead after only eight minutes.

Following a ruck set up by the back row, the ball was passed down the blind side where prop Clive Martin found himself in space on the wing and ran the ball in at the corner from 15metres out.

The next 20 minutes saw Walden have a lot of the possession and most of the territory but they could not rack up any further points.

They added to their lead after 28 minutes when Chelmsford gave away a penalty for hands in a ruck in front of the posts and Hughes converted to put the hosts 8-0 up.

Chelmsford came back strongly and four minutes later they managed to work the ball down the line to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Walden kept the pressure on and soon scored a further two penalties, the first in the 35th minute from an offside and the next two minutes later when the visitors were caught infringing at a maul.

The hosts didn't let up and extended their lead before the break. The visitors were penalised for killing the ball five metres out under the posts and quick thinking by captain Paul Marshall saw him tap and pass to Dave Phillps who went over unopposed. The try was converted and Walden went in at half-time with a 21-5 advantage.

With the wind behind the visitors in the second half, Chelmsford played a good proportion of the next 20 minutes in Walden's half, but good defence kept the scoring chances down to two penalties.

The first was made after 50 minutes when Walden were caught trying to run the ball out of defence and were penalised for hanging on, and the second 12 minutes later for offside.

Despite Chelmsford reducing the deficit, the hosts started to win more possession and with the superior pace in the backs they looked dangerous every time they got the ball in their hands.

After 70 minutes they had worked a good position about 15 metres out and Hughes sensing that nothing was on, took his time and kicked a great drop goal.

For the last 10 minutes Walden pinned the visitors inside their half and rounded off the victory when flanker Andrew Lancaster dived over the line with five minutes to go, following good work from Revell, Marshall and Tom McPartlan.

On Saturday Walden visit Romford & Gidea Park.