KO 2.30pm

A grey damp day greeted Chingford back to Rochford after a season’s wait for them to get re-promoted. Their backs and their loose forwards looked quick and very eager and this provided them with a solid base on which to launch attacks. However the wind and hill assisted Chingford in the first half and they used a rare visit into their opponents half after 15 minutes to grab a long range penalty by Dan Boughtwood. This released their defensive pose and after a flurry of phases, debutant Andre Cabrera dived over but the wide out conversion was missed. The game subsided into one of limited ability and constant infringements leading to a penalty to Rochford in front after half an hour which they converted. That looked like being that until half time but in injury time Rochford converted another penalty to make it 8 – 6 to Chingford.

Rochford started the second half as they did the first with constant pressure and this allowed them to take the lead after 54 minutes with a penalty. For the last quarter, however, Chingford took full control and won penalties every 5 minutes from the 65^th, converting 3, to leave them leading 17 – 9 entering injury time. Rochford then kicked off and scored a dubious charge down try from the restart which they converted. Not to be outdone Chingford through Cabrera again scored from their restart and ran out comfortable winners 22 – 16.