Chingford travelled north to Bury St Edmunds to face a side that had also lost only one game so far this season. With numerous changes to personnel Chingford showed the strength that they have within the club giving a debut to Hendrit Colitz, and fielding Luke Mullett, two players who have been recently plying their trade in 2nd XV. It was also good to see the return of Paul Lawson after a nasty incident that led to him spending 3 days in hospital the last time he played. Bury took the early initiative, meaning that Chingford spent the first twenty minutes defending, before spurning the few chances that they had during this period with the ball being spilt with the line open. Bury started to gain field position due to the visitor’s mistakes, and after one such break, led to Chingford losing Mark Lawson to the sin–bin after a brilliant try saving tackle. Bury missed with the penalty chance. During the time Chingford were a man down, they took the lead when man of the match Luke Campbell kicked a simple penalty late in the half, and Chingford led 0 – 3 at the half-time break. With the wind and slope against the visitors Chingford, they extended their lead with another penalty kick by Campbell. Bury tried to get into the game but outstanding performances in the second row by both Lee and Captain Jeynes, kept pounding the home side back in the tackle. Chingford were unlucky early on when Bowling was pulled back by the referee, saying he received a forward pass, which was debatable at the very least. With Biddle looking dangerous out wide on one wing, it was the other winger Tom Childs who scored Chingford’s first try after a good break by Mark Lawson, and the ball went wide for Childs to dive in. With the conversion missed Chingford scored an awesome try directly from the kick-off. With the ball moving between Young, Mullet and Burnage at least twice, with Hollis, the Lawson brothers also involved, it was left to the supporting Campbell to collect the ball only a few feet short of the line to go over. Chingford within 2 minutes had scored 10 points and now a win in this game looked a distant prospect for the home team. Credit to the home side who plugged away, but Chingford’s solid defence with both substitutes used, in Colitz and Fitzgerald both outstanding. With Bury camped deep on the Chingford line for the final minutes the team spirit showed through when the final whistle was blown the home side still remained scoreless regardless of their determined effort. “It all starts up front and once Piper and Bird had worked their magic in the front-row Chingford pack gained the upper-hand, and the backs could exploit the space. The second try was one of the best team tries seen this season, with ball going through the majority of the player’s hands, it is a credit to the hard work put in at training, by both the coaches and the guys out there today. It is a great team spirit at present and we look forward to entertaining league leaders Westcliff at Waltham Way this Saturday (3pm Kick Off)” commented Chingford’s 1st XV Manager Phil Howell. Players Player of the Day – Luke Campbell 1st Team Debut – Hendrik Colitz “The team played very well. Bury pushed us around in the first 20 – 25 minutes of the game, but once we found our rhythm and started to control the tempo we were able to organize the game, especially in the 2nd half. The forwards were immense and the backs complemented that effort with outstanding defence. Now we can look forward to playing Westcliff this weekend. A very interesting game is on the table.” said Stefan Smith