Brentwood entertained Chelmsford in the return fixture of this season.

Since Brentwood won the away fixture last September, Chelmsford have had a poor season and are currently in bottom place with only one win while Brentwood had had a run of victories this year and are now in fourth place.

The game was influenced by a strong wind and blustery showers making conditions very difficult for both teams.

Brentwood's pack, with Killington and Shaw prominent, were making holes in the visitor's defence and with ten minutes gone, the home team were awarded a penalty.

Following a kick to touch, Metcalfe serviced the line-out ball, fed scrum-half Benton for an excellent blind-side try.

Astutely using the wind, Chelmsford pinned down Brentwood in their 22 and with Brentwood's backs up in attack they gained a loose ball which their winger ran in for a breakaway try under the posts.

Brentwood's discipline broke down at this point and they gave away two needless penalties in front of their posts to let Chelmsford go 13-5 ahead.

For the remaining part of the first half Chelmsford, with newly acquired confidence, kept Brentwood's defence under pressure but good covering kept the visitors from adding to their score.

The home team had played the better rugby but Chelmsford had taken their few scoring opportunities.

Brentwood kicked off downhill to start the second half with advantage of slope, wind and sun and were soon testing Chelmsford's defence.

Caught off-side, Chelmsford gave away an early penalty in front of the posts which Hickie converted.

The home side were now fired up and from a drive by Shaw the loose ball was spun down the line for McConnal to score a well-taken try.

Hickie kicked a great conversion and the home-side were now 15-13 ahead.

With Brentwood now well on top Chelmsford made their task more difficult when their flanker was sin-binned for excessive use of the boot.

Hickie kicked the resultant penalty to put the home side five points ahead.

The third quarter almost over McConnal seized on a loose Chelmsford and sped strongly over for this second try of the match.

Hickie missed the conversion but Brentwood were ahead by ten points.

The last 20 minutes saw Brentwood make an alarming number of mistakes as their concentration and control went to pieces.

Chelmsford stuck to their task and went close to scoring during this period.

The final whistle was greeted with relief by both the Brentwood team and supporters alike.

The final score of 23-13 was just worthy of two points and with Rochford losing, Brentwood have now moved to third place in the League.

Published Wednesday March 13, 2002