Chingford entertained league leaders Tring at Waltham Way last Saturday in what was billed as "a winner takes all" contest, in extremely difficult weather conditions, conditions that effectively ended any possibility of any game involving running rugby. Chingford had a change of strip playing in blue rather than the usual black, as the colours clashed as Tring also play in black, so the home side who were in third in the league only 1 point off the top spot knew that a win would take them closer to the dream of promotion. Chingford started the game with the gale force winds behind them, and instantly realised the force of that wind when kicking off, kicking the ball directly over the dead ball line, a mistake that was repeated on numerous occasions that hindered the home side throughout the first half. It was these errors that were cost Chingford dearly, and really it was the management of the conditions that was difference between to the two sides. Chingford in the first half, kept giving the initiative back to the visitors, whether it was constantly being penalised for not releasing the ball quick enough, or kicking the ball dead, every time Chingford got themselves within striking distance they gave Tring an easy opportunity to clear the ball. It was from one of the series of penalties that Tring made their one and only venture into the Chingford 22, and had a lineout 5 metres out from the home sides try line, but Chingford's John Burnage managed to steal the ball in the lineout, and Thomas Lockwood cleared the danger. The home side were once again penalised, and the referee's patience was started to run thin and he sent the unfortunate Jan Bonney to the sin bin for 10 minutes, but Tring could not make anything of the numerical advantage. Chingford did have a opportunity to get themselves on the scoreboard, when Tobias de-Klerk took a shot a goal, only for the ball to sail wide, and that meant that at half-time both teams remained scoreless, and both sets of supporters were biting their nails.

Now Tring had the wind behind them and the home side expected a full on assault on their try-line, but it was Chingford who took the game to Tring picking and driving around the fringes of rucks and mauls, that eventually led to 2 normally kickable penalties right in front of the posts. With Chingford's de-Klerk stepping up to take kick the kick, most of the Chingford supporters would have put their life savings on both of these kicks, but with the gale blowing directly in his face, the first was held up in the wind, and the second went agonisingly wide. So with over an hour gone neither side had registered any points. Next to keep the heart pounding, with Tring trying to clear the ball, Chingford's Ollie Hoad charged down the ball, and the speedy Thomas Lockwood dived on the ball only for the referee to say that it had gone dead, that was the first of a couple of big calls that he had to make during this tense second half, decisions that would affect both sides for next season. Chingford seemed to have all the ball, but could not turn that possession into points, and when the home side lost the ball, all Tring had to do was clear their lines, but they kicked more intelligently, managing to only once kick the ball dead, whereas Chingford managed to do that at least half a dozen times in the first half, and ultimately that was the difference between the two sides. With Chingford once again giving away a silly unnecessary penalty, Tring's Tom Newton managed to get the right connection on the ball, and register the first points of the day, much to the delight of the travelling supporters. Within a couple of minutes he had the chance again, from a slightly easier position, but this time the ball was sent wide, and the score remained 0-3. With around 20 minutes to go the home side made changes, with Bowling replacing Piper, and Williams replacing Hastings, which may have weakened the scrum slightly, but gave fresh legs around the park. Every time Chingford got close something would happen and Tring could clear the ball, the home side just did not get the bounce of the ball that day, and all Tring did was defend and defend. With Finn coming on to replace Campbell Chingford threw on their last substitute, and kept the pressure on the visitors, but Tring tackled and tackled, once again being a bit more street wise around the rucks, and not getting caught the way that Chingford had been in first half.

For the final 5 minutes of the game Chingford were camped within Tring's 22, with Chingford's Captain Declan Bird being driven over the line only for the referee to decide that he had not grounded the ball, a very big call so late in the game. From here the visitors started to be penalised, and with the last play of the game the home side were awarded a penalty directly in front of the posts. Tring slowed the ball down so that the home side could not take a quick one, so Chingford went from the scrum, and a chance to win the game. Chingford had dominated a rather weak Tring pack for most of the game, but could not get that drive on to score that all important try, and eventually the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game.

"Credit to Tring they came here to tackle and defend, they did not have a single attack and never once threatened our line, but it was them who came away with the important win, and now look likely to get the promotion that both sides and Staines have been chasing all year. With Staines also loosing, if we had managed to score a try it would be Chingford who would be a the top of the league, but you cannot take anything away from the eighteen guys who were out there today, especially in the second half, they were awesome, we just could not score those points. We must learn from this!" said a highly disappointed Chingford manager Phil Howell.