GLORIOUS SUNSHINE, RUGBY AND A DOMINATING WIN
After the recent weather and conditions it was a relief to have a spring feeling to the day perfect for open rugby. These two teams always provide an entertaining game normally nerve tingling to the end. The game started with both side probing each others defences with the good work by Civil Service being undone by an interception breakaway by Chingford, Civil Service were able to chase back and clear the attack. Civil Service settled and started to increase the pressure on Chingford and with a good break from inside their half Tom Sumner swept through the Chingford defence and with an inside pass Heine Van de Speck ran through clear, to open the score after 18 mins with Matt Easton converting 7 -0. Civil Service continued to pressure Chingford making them look unusually uncomfortable as Hadyn Cummings scragged their scrum half and the Civil Service defence snuffing out the attacks. Chingford had to resort to some kicking out of defence to relieve the pressure they were under. Civil Service were able to use this ball to play some good open rugby to gain ground and after a forceful break by Dan Somervile and accurate interplay to Tom Sumner who passed inside to Hadyn Cummings to Aaron Campbell to run in the try converted by Matt Easton to finish the half 14 -0 up. The second half started with Civil Service losing non of the momentum of the first half and were soon back in the Chingford 22, forcing a couple of penalties Civil Service were camped in the 5 metre line and with the forwards striving for the pushover the ball was popped out to Hadyn Cummings who dived under the defence to score out wide conversion Matt Easton 21 -0 after 52 mins. Now Chingford are never a side to roll over and that was their signal to push on and for the next 20 minutes they battled hard to break the Civil Service defence but they were working really hard and continued to keep a clean sheet. Civil Service also managed to penetrate the Chingford half but were just denied further scores Chingford resorting to accurate kicking forcing Civil Service to chase hard to defend. During this best period for Chingford they scored a try out wide possibly the ref was unsighted for the pass but even Chingford look surprised when it was awarded 21 -5 on 70 mins. At the other end Civil Service pressure led to a penalty which was missed and returned with interest as Chingford came forward the defence was strong but in the dying minutes Chingford scored with a good move moving the ball wide and cutting back to finish the game 21 -12 on 85 minutes. Good result for Civil Service, all in all a good game to watch both teams playing rugby and not trying the referee’s patience as we have seen recently.
Paul Tiller