Chingford were lead out onto the pitch by Captain Ben Jeynes having to wear the 3rd team’s red shirts due to a colour clash with the opposition shirts. Chingford put all the pressure on the away team only for a poor pass or a knock on preventing them from putting points on the board. The pressure then told with the Chingford pack completely on top and excellent ball carrying from second row Mick Lee lead to a penalty inside the 22 in front of the posts. This was easily converted by the returning Kurt Forward who missed last week’s game with a calf injury. Harpenden restarted the game with a trade mark ‘Andy Goode bomb’ which was expertly defused by a rushing Ben Jeynes, the forwards cleared over providing a perfect platform for debut start Scrum Half Chris Moore to deliver a perfectly executed box kick causing all sorts of trouble for Harpenden’s left wing. A knock on and an offside gave Chingford another penalty which they kicked for the corner. An excellent touch finder from Kurt Forward giving Chingford a 10 metre line out in Harpenden’s 22m. Yet again Chingford’s #8 Matt Hastings who has moved to the back of the scrum from hooker threw a bulls eyes line out stretching the giant second row Mick Lee. Chingford’s forwards were unstoppable at this point they set the maul with props Piper and Bird leading from the front as usual to steer the Chingford Red titanic towards the Harpenden try line. Harpenden tried their very best to bring it down but the efforts were in vain, with the elusive Luke Campbell touching down for an excellent forwards try. 10 minutes had gone and Chingford were looking very much on top and had it not been for some excellent play from the back 3 for Harpenden, and some slowing down in the ruck area, Chingford should have been a lot further in front. Harpenden restarted the game again with a similar tactic high short kick off which was dealt with very well by the red Chingford pack allowing Forward to look as though he was going to put a long kick for the corner but then delicately chipped the on rushing Harpenden defence. He regathered popping off to the hard hitting centre Lawson who was then taken down in the opposition 22 cleaned out excellently by the even harder hitting and very impressive Hollis but quick ball was yet again denied by Harpenden giving Chingford a penalty. Again Forward kicked to the corner and the ‘Dads Army’ of Piper, Bird and Young took control of the maul and lead Chingford to a second try for Luke Campbell and with another fantastic Forward try conversion it was Chingford 15 Harpenden 0. Things were starting to break up and Harpenden began to counter with the speed that they had out wide and some good ball carrying from the forwards put Chingford on the back foot. A very harsh penalty and yellow card was given to Chingford’s speedy full back Kiwi Biddle for blocking but. Harpenden then missed the resulting penalty. It was a let off for Chingford but down to 14 men meant they would have to be careful. The away team started going for territory and giving Chingford the run around but some good defence from Chingford’s hard hitting centre’s meant there was no way through for them. Chingford then broke away with some quick short passing hitting prop Declan Bird on a short line to carry them into the 22 the an excellent dummy running miss move found Kurt Forward who broke the tackle leaving him one on one with the Fullback and there was only going to be 1 winner….K.Forward try. Chingford then took the foot off the peddle and an excellent 25 minutes blowing Harpenden off the park then turned into a scrappy game till HT. Unfortunately Chingford could not find another gear and did not take their opportunities. Harpenden were playing and defending well and scrapping for everything. A moment of brilliance did happen for Chingford with a very impressive display from Matt Hastings some good running from the scrum, supported by Campbell and the hard working Burnage. The Chingford wingers, Childs and Pask, were starved of ball but were certainly putting in the effort and defence and full back Biddle redundant at the back. Infringements began to slow the game down and more importantly the referee was beginning to become too involved with his whistle on too many needless occasions. Unfortunately Chingford lost a player to the bin again, Hooker Tommy Young, for an early tackle which again seemed harsh but the referee is always right of course. Chingford didn’t have another moment to cheer when Matt Hasting scored a try from a well worked team try. Chingford Coach added Players Player of the Day – Matt Hastings “It was frustrating game to watch and it must have been agonising for the spectators. The opening 20 minutes, was excellent, the next 60 minutes we were distinctly anonymous in the game, we didn’t execute or finish any of the overlaps or line breaks made. We will focus on a few key areas this week for the Bury game. The collaboration between the forwards and backs will click very soon. We have a great team spirit this season and we will get better as the season rolls on.”