CHELMSFORD opened their London One North league season campaign with a heavy defeat at near neighbours Thurrock.

The game was effectively over by half time, when the home side scored four tries without reply to establish a lead of 26-3.

Thurrock scored a further four tries in the 2nd half to secure a 50-30 win.

After 15 minutes of the second half, Thurrock were leading by 40-6 and Chelmsford were looking at the possibility of a heavy thumping, however, the visitors dug deep and scored four tries in the last quarter to register an important bonus point.

Director of Rugby, Eddie Gooby, said: “With five debutants playing today, it was always going to take time for the players to gel,

“Thurrock seemed to score every time we made a mistake and the scoreboard just ran away from us.

“We have to learn to close up shop when things are going against us and close the game down.

“Two things stood out today, one being very poor and the other which leaves me with confidence that we can pull things together.

“Our first up tackling was very poor, we have to work on chopping the opposition down and stopping the offload.

“Secondly being 50-11 down at one stage, we showed the character, skill and commitment to score 19 unanswered points and register a bonus point.

“We conceded too many points last season, so we need to tighten up our defence if we are to stay in this highly competitive league,” Gooby added.

Chelmsford host last season’s London North East Two champions, Saffron Walden, on Saturday.

Walden got off to a winning start last weekend against Sudbury, who finished runners up to them and were also promoted to London One North through the play-offs.

This should prove to be an exciting contest and one that Chelmsford will be looking at to record their first victory of the season.

The kick off is at 3pm at Coronation Park.