With Finchley languishing towards the bottom of the league and Chelmsford mid-table, Chelmsford entered Saturday's match at Coronation Park with an air of confidence, especially after their superb performance against Southend the previous week.

Finchley kicked off playing down the hill but Chelmsford made a positive start, mounting pressure on their opposition.

This resulted in them being awarded a penalty kick 12 minutes in which was slotted home by Christian O'Hare, and 13 minutes later, Chelmsford scored their first try.

Again Chelmsford were awarded a penalty which was close to the Finchley line and they took the tap penalty and the forwards set up a maul.

The ball was popped off the edge of the maul to James Howe who set up a ruck and captain Rob Earley made a couple of metres from the breakdown before feeding the ball to Paul Foster on the wing to run in the try.

Three minutes later, Chelmsford had a player sent off and were down to 14 players for the remainder of the game.

Undeterred, they rearranged themselves and remained solid in defence throughout.

Finchley were awarded a penalty as a result of the incident which they kicked to narrow the score to 8-3.

Despite the fact that Finchley had the extra man, they never capitalised on the advantage and Chelmsford scored their second try after 33 minutes.

They were pressurising the visitors and were forcing them to have to clear their lines. However, the ball was charged down and Paul Bass caught the kick and ran in to score.

With Finchley kicking a second penalty just before half-time, the score at the interval was 13-6 to Chelmsford.

Playing in the favoured direction in the second half, down the slope, it was easy for the Chelmsford forwards to set up good driving mauls.

Lawrence Crispin took good line out ball and a maul was set up enabling the forwards to drive over the line and Dave Howell to score his debut first team try after 43 minutes.

O'Hare made the conversion then got into the action himself to score the fourth try, after making a tackle on the halfway line.

As he suffered a slight injury in the process, Foster took the conversion and made an excellent kick from close to the touchline.

The final try fell to Earley. Again, good ball was won at the line out and driven on by the pack.

This allowed Earley to take the ball from the back of the maul and dive over the line.

O'Hare added the conversion and a further penalty to seal a good afternoon's work by Chelmsford.

On Saturday Chelmsford first XV travel to Campion for a friendly fixture (kick off 2.15pm).

On the run . . action from Saturday's match between Chelmsford and Finchley at Coronation Park, Chelmsford comfortably winning 37-6.

Other results

Chelmsford II beat Finchley II 22-13, Chelmsford's try scorers being Dom Fenton, Brian Edwards, Martin Webdale and Jon Lyons, who also kicked a conversion. Chelmsford III lost 27-17 to Eton Manor III, Chelmsford's try scorers being Jack Gibson (2) and Glenn Richards while Bryan Hankin kicked a conversion. Chelmsford IV lost 53-12 to Billericay III, Chelmsford's two tries being scored by Paul Gerard and Neil Wilson kicked a conversion. Canvey Island II beat Chelmsford Veterans 32-0.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.