Chingford welcomed league leaders Westcliff to Waltham Way on Saturday. With Chingford once again being forced to make numerous changes to the starting XV due to injury, they lacked cohesion and this led to early chances being missed. Westcliff played a game based on kicking deep into Chingford territory and using their speedy backs to put pressure on the home side. The home side made some basic mistakes which led to Westcliff being able to capitalize on field position, but rarely looked likely to breach the strong Chingford defence. The home side eventually opened the scoring with Ben Bolton-Smith diving over from close range, the conversion was missed, and Chingford took a deserved lead. Westcliff then landed 2 penalties from three attempts to take the lead, after once again silly errors were made and stupid penalties conceded. With only minutes remaining until half-time, flying Irish winger Donnagh Fitzgerald escaped the desperate Westcliff defence to slide in out wide, and Chingford once again took the lead. The conversion was missed, with both Forward and Campbell having a poor a day with the boot, and this meant that Chingford only led by 4 points at the break. The home sided needed to start the second period well. If they continued to pressurise and keep hold of the ball at crucial times, Chingford knew that they could cross the Westcliff line and that eventually the score would come. The first minutes of the second half saw Chingford drop the ball from the restart and after regaining possession they then failed to clear the ball which led to Westcliff’s scrum half diving in from close range after tackles were missed. He also added the extras, and Westcliff once again took the lead. Hendri Calitz then left the field to be replaced by Andrew Grounds, meaning Matt Hastings moved from hooker to the back-row. Chingford’s already dominant front row now had 3 props, with Piper and Raby out scrummaging the smaller Westcliff opponents. With Campbell leaving the park temporally, due to a blood injury, Jordan Clarke replaced him, and instantly made a break for Chingford to retake the lead. Then from a good lineout, Lawson found Clarke coming from deep, he broke through to find Ryan Past who scored Chingford’s third try of the day. Westcliff started to look tired, and Chingford had further kickable opportunities to extend the lead, but once again easy kicks were missed. The home sides final try of the day broke the enthusiastic Westcliff, when Ryan Pask was put clear, after Biddle and Hollis made good yards, Pask went in up under the posts. Kurt Forward finally added the extra 2 points with the conversion, before Campbell slotted a penalty and Chingford won the game 25 points to 13. “We played in second gear for a good majority of the game. We did show some of our potential in the set pieces and on our defence, to keep our supporters happy and the confidence brewing within the team. Peter Christie has done a fantastic job with the forward this season and it was evident on the field he deserves a lot of recognition for what he has brought to Chingford,” said Chingford Head Coach Stefan Smith. Chingford now are equal top after losing just 1 game, but lie third on points difference, and play local rivals Woodford away next Saturday.