KO 2.15pm

What a game at Valleyside this afternoon in the bright sunshine and freezing conditions, it had everything for anyone but the faint hearted, Chingford faced Hammersmith and Fulham for the first ever time and it will be long remembered. The first half flattered to deceive with H&F pressing for the first quarter and missing 2 decent penalty chances, only for tries to be exchanged as if by arrangement. Chingford then took control and showed why their backs need to be shown respect as slick passing and good lines gave Brandon Hart a brace of tries. One conversion by Dan Boughtwood added to his earlier try gave Chingford a comfortable 17 – 7 lead at half time.

The light breeze behind them and the dazzling sun made Chingford the big favourites in the second half but H&F had not read the script and quickly converted a try to put things within 3 points. There followed a period of crushing tackles which caused substitute after substitute to bolster each side such that after 29 minutes H&F were reduced to 14 men. A speculative forward punt shortly after crossed the H&F line and the full back contrived to not touch it down allowing Andre Cabrera to take  advantage of the situation to restore Chingford’s lead.

The restart was a comedy of errors with Joe Perks missing the easy kick off and presenting the onrushing 14 man H&F with an easy score in the corner. Now with only 5 minutes remaining and the numeric advantage against them, it seemed impossible for H&F to come back but incredibly they picked up a stray attacking pass and their second row kicked through and again only to leave himself to dive on the prone ball to score. Yet even more incredibly he missed the score and allowed Chingford the opportunity to clear. Only seconds now remained and H&F were further reduced to 13 by another injury but they pressed and pressed with their scrum half and right winger leading attack after attack. How Chingford weathered the storm is difficult to portray but in pitch darkness and with drained and frozen spectators the referee had finally had enough.

A comfortable 22- 19 win said the locals but the travelling hoards from H&F were still bemoaning their fate some hours later but the real winner was rugby football.

1.       Billy Spink

2.       Ikenna Onwuka 

3.       Adam Raby

4.       Ben Jeynes

5.       Kenton Simms

6.       Joe Perks

7.       Ollie Hoad

8.       Dave Brown (Capt)

9.       JP Sharpe

10.    Dan Boughtwood (T.C)

11.    Andre Cabrera (T)

12.    Kalem Abbott

13.    Brandon Hart (2T)

14.    James Moy

15.    Abdel Giles

Subs:

1.       Nick Boraster Wright

2.       Tom Regan

3.       Tom Lowry