CHELMSFORD kept alive their hopes of retaining their London One North league status with a 20-15 win at Old Priorians.

The win moved Chelmsford up to ninth on 42 points, while defeats for Chingford and Ruislip and a draw for Barking mean Eddie Gooby’s side are three points above the third team in the relegation zone.

It was only the second time this season that Chelmsford had recorded back-to-back wins but it was a welcome four points for coach Gooby.

“This was a massive win for us today, yes we rode our luck a bit but we deserved this win,” he said.

“We all know that we could have played better today, but the result was all that mattered.”

Chelmsford welcomed back loose head prop Stephen Prest following a long-term hamstring injury against a Priorians side who had lost their last four games.

Centre Adam Cunnah gave Chelmsford the perfect start when he scored under the posts after sprinting the full length of the pitch. Simon Hoult converted to make it 7-0.

Priorians scored a penalty just before half time to make it 7-3 but early in the second half Simon Hoult kicked a penalty increase Chelmsford’s lead to 10-3.

Flanker Oli Wright made a good tackle and Simon Hoult picked up the ball and scored under the posts before converting to extend the lead to 17-3.

Priorians reduced the arrears with two tries, one of which was converted, to make it 17-15.

Both sides missed a penalty but Simon Hoult made amends for his in the first minute of injury time by slotting home a penalty from just inside the Priorians half to secure the 20-15 win.

Chelmsford return to action on Saturday, April 2, at Coronation Park with a 3pm kick-off.