After last week’s late disappointing defeat away to Tring, CS Rugby returned to winning ways with a strong win at Dukes Meadows against Chelmsford newly promoted to the league. James Houstoun the full back helped CS to a strong start scoring the first three tries, together two penalties and two conversion, and he went on to successfully kick ten from ten kicks. However the game did not start so well for CS as within 5 seconds they had conceded a penalty from the kick off as the referee saw what he deemed to be blocking. The Chelmsford fly half stroked the ball beautifully through the middle of the posts to give the visitors a 3 - 0 lead. Less than 60 seconds later James Houston broke free and stepped the last defender to score his and CS’s first try which he converted for a 7 – 3 lead. The next score was another penalty to the Chelmsford fly half before Houstoun replied with two successful penalties and two more tries. However he was injured whilst scoring his third try and went off for the remaining 15 minutes of the first half. Just before half time Zac Stamp powered down the left wing to score his first try for CS (see photo) which was not converted and CS therefore went into the break 30 – 6 ahead, and with a four try bonus point in the bag.

The second half started with Chelmsford, no doubt heeding their half time instructions, scoring a well worked try after just three minutes which they converted. Shortly afterwards Houstoun converted a penalty to increase the CS lead to 33 – 13. A further penalty CS kicked deep for an attacking line out which resulted in Ollie Fulljames driving over the line, both this try and No 8 Guy’s were converted, although i-between the two scores Chelmsford broke and scored near the posts which they also converted. The last quarter saw three more tries for CS from Brad Meeson (see photo), Padddy Blennerhassett and Liam Cleary all converted by Houstoun. CS therefore won the match by 68- 20. The team and coaches looked back on a match that saw patterns of play successfully emerge, and a well executed game plan. CS’s next match is away to Amersham who like CS were in National Three London and South East last season, and the match should be a keenly contested one.