Essex Senior Cup holders Chingford kicked off their league season with a tricky trip up the A1, to Letchworth Garden City, a team that Chingford have not won away to for at least a couple of seasons. With the inevitable comings and going of the off-season, Chingford were sporting 3 debutants in the starting 15, plus the return to 1st team action for Adam Raby who spent the majority of last season out injured. The game started brightly for the visitors, with 2 kickable penalties being awarded in the first 5 minutes, but Kurt Forward was unsuccessful, and the score remained 0-0. The first try of game went to Chingford, with the ball being spilt in a tackle, the ever alert Kurt Forward picked the ball up just inside opposition territory and sprinted in under the posts, and he converted his try and Chingford were 7 points ahead. The game was noticeably the first of the season, with new combinations needing time to bed in, but all 3 of the debutants impressed, with Tommy Young at hooker, Danny Bell at scrum half, and Kiwi Biddle at fullback, all contributing with important tackles, and solid defence across the park. After Letchworth had lost their flanker to the Sin-bin in the first few minutes, it was not long before the referee decided to even things up and sent Declan Bird off the field for 10 minutes, for what looked like dominating his opposite number. This meant the return to action of Adam Raby in his new front-row position. With time ticking out, Letchworth mounted the first real attacking play on the first half, and were rewarded with a penalty, and the half-time score read Letchworth Garden City 3 Chingford 7. Now with the wind and slope against them, Chingford would have to defend bravely, and defend they did, spending the opening minutes of the second period camped in their own half, but 15 minutes into the half Letchworth eventually took the lead with a try, but were unsuccessful with the conversion attempt, so the home side held a 1 point advantage. The visitors need to get ball in hand, and with Piper and Hastings leading the way, they started to mount attacks and look more comfortable, and with the human dynamo Luke Stumpy Campbell now getting hold of the ball, Chingford looked the more dangerous of the two teams. With Steve Hollis having to leave the game with suspected broken ribs, it meant a reorganisation of the Chingford team, with impact sub Kieran Dizzy Bowling going into the back-row, and Jordan Clarke then stepping out to the wing. Moments later Letchworth scored again, after Chingford missed too many tackles gifting the home team a soft try, but once again a simple conversion was missed, and the score read Letchworth 13 Chingford 7. The minutes were passing by, every time the visitors got close to the home teams try-line, a silly penalty or mistake was made and the home team could relieve the pressure. With 5 minutes left on the clock, the combination of Campbell and Forward caused havoc in the home teams defence, with Forward showing all the tricks of a circus juggler to reclaim the ball inches away from the Letchworth try-line, before he was driven over the line to score his second try of the day. Chingford now were a point behind, still with the conversion to take, and Forward was lucky with his attempt as it only just went over the cross bar, but they all count. Now with 4 minutes remaining Chingford were now a point ahead. Directly from the restart Chingford were penalised, and Letchworth had the opportunity to once again take the lead, and after swapping kickers Letchworth were successful and now held a 2 point advantage. Was this to be story of last season with Chingford loosing games in the final minutes? With 3 minutes left on the clock, Chingford attacked intelligently, and were rewarded with another penalty, but too far out for Forward to kick. Captain of the day Matt Hastings took the penalty quickly, bought an extra 10 yards, and now it was within the range of Kurt Forward, and with the final moment of the game, he stepped up a slotted the perfect kick, for Chingford to run out winners 16 points to 17. "The first league game of the season resulted in a narrow, but well deserved win away at Letchworth. The result was significant for two reasons, firstly winning the opening game of the season & second beating Letchworth away, we had previously not achieved either in the 3 prior seasons. The team showed great character and strength to remain in the game until the 80th minute and secure the win with the last kick of the game. We have a long way to go and we will take another step forward this week in training before we play high scoring Civil Service on Saturday at home, an epic game is assured" said a happy Head Coach Stefan Smith. Please support your local rugby club, next game; Kick-off 3pm Lea Valley Playing Grounds, Waltham Way, Chingford.