Holt 28 Chelmsford 27 (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Holt 28 Chelmsford 27

4:05pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport

THIS was an extraordinary game of rugby played at a fierce tempo leaving both sides, exhausted,with Holt claiming victory with the last kick of the game.

Chelmsford started the game at pace, the ball was fed along the backs for Nick Hankin to break before feeding Seb Hill who in turn fed Josh Clarke who crashed over for an unconverted try.

Josh Clarke had another wonderful game, tackling everything that moved and carrying the ball to gain valuable yardage.

Holt gained the lead minutes later with a converted try following a catch and drive at the line out. Paul Smedley put the blue boys back in front minutes later with a well struck penalty.

It soon became obvious that this was a game where Chelmsford could score tries if the ball was given to their talented backs but Holt were going to have the advantage in the scrum.

After 25 minutes Chelmsford increased their lead following good handling by the backs allowing Nick Hankin to score a converted try.

Chelmsford went further ahead when Rhys Mason under pressure in his own 22 metre area chose to chip a head.

It looked a dangerous manoeuvre but Hankin gathered the ball to run 70 metres to score a converted try to make the score 22-7.

Chelmsford under pressure near their own line, had other problems to deal with when hooker Seth Robinson went off with a neck injury and then scrum half Jack Venn got sin binned.

It was no surprise when Holt scored following a driving set scrum to make it 22-14 at half time.

Again Chelmsford started at a rapid pace, Josh Clarke making excellent yardage before feeding Paul Smedley to score an unconverted try after only two minutes.

From the kick-off the Holt back row was sin binned and it looked like it might be Chelmsford’s game.

Holt scrum was now in control and another try was scored from the base of a set scrum. The last five minutes of the game were frantic.

Chelmsford were denied a try two metres from the line when Hankin was pulled down and then the ball was hacked away by a player in an offside position. Hankin was then sin binned.

Chelmsford with seconds to go lost the ball in the back of their scrum, again from a dubious offside position. Holt fed the ball along their line to score wide out. With the score at 26-27 the Holt kicker held his nerve to win the game.

Needless to say the Chelmsford team were devastated with the results and Eddie Gooby, club coach, refused to give a comment on the last five minutes of the referee’s decisions.

He said: “The boys were magnificent today – some of the handling and running was superb. I am exceptionally proud of all the blue boys.”

Next weekend will see Chelmsford play Enfield at home, kick-off 2.45 pm.