1st XV vs Chingford
I always felt we had a better than even chance against Chingford. You have to give them credit, they have remained top of the league for the majority of the season and have built great momentum. It has to be said however that we let them off the hook earlier in the season; circumstances beyond our control and injuries to key players allowed them back into the game when they appeared to be beaten, and in the second half they took their opportunities well. On reflection however, there is an unpredictable air about Chingford and pressure can bring out the best, and worst, in some teams. We needed to test their nerve and to see how they would react away from their home turf.

As part of our preparation we look at weekly results and events. It was interesting to note that last week Chingford collected three second half yellow cards against Saffron Walden so we were aware that they have the potential to implode. Teams who play 'on the edge' always run the risk of overstepping the mark and for the second week in succession Chingford collected three second half yellow cards and this lack of discipline enabled our boys to reverse their momentum and limit their scoring opportunities.

On Saturday we were forced into a very late change. Literally minutes before kick off Jerone Awesu incurred a minor knee injury during the warm up. Losing a player in the warm up is problematic, but it is made even more difficult when the player is a front row replacement. All teams are required to have at least one player on the bench capable of playing in the front row and failure to name a front row replacement results in an immediate forfeit. After Jerone was officially ruled out I made a quick phone call to Charlie Thorogood and within a few minutes he arrived at Mill Road ready for action.

As the game unfolded, Charlie would have a massive impact on the outcome - so much so that he was the deserved winner of the Man of the Match award on the strength of his second half contribution. Our line out was dominant throughout the game and with Rhys Hartley injured at half-time, Charlie had to step into the fray and try to maintain our momentum. As a hooker you cannot hide. Like a place kicker, the hooker is exposed to almost constant pressure and when you make a mistake it's clear for everyone to see. Charlie stepped up and hit every line out under intense pressure; it was a magnificent performance and his ability to deliver under pressure enabled our boys to keep Chingford at arms length and starve them of possession.

As well as securing our own ball, the forwards did a magnificent job disrupting the Chingford line out. Yes, their hooker had a tough day, but our forwards were quick to react to the wayward Chingford service; Liam Pickett, Dan Whiteman and Joe Colcomb made life difficult for the Chingford jumpers and on a number of occasions they were able to reverse possession and exert additional pressure on the opposition. In the second half we were able to really test the Chingford defence and remarkably, despite playing most of the second half with 14 men, they held out until the final quarter when the pressure finally told. Looking back over the match footage, we had a number of scoring opportunities, but could not land the 'knockout punch' as Chingford held up several close quarter attacks with dogged defence. As a team we need to be more ruthless near our opponents try line; we create openings but sometimes fail to take advantages of these positions. Against the better teams you may only have a couple of opportunities over the course of a game, so when they come you have to take them.

Despite the adverse weather, our Groundsman Rod Chatters managed to produce a wonderful pitch, perfect for our style and approach. With our pace and mobility, a good pitch can make a massive difference and in London 1 there is a significant variation in the quality of pitches and facilities. Rod works tirelessly to keep our pitches in the best possible condition and we really appreciate the contribution he makes to our club.

Ravens vs Henley
Away from Mill Road, the Ravens secured a superb win over Henley. Despite missing a number of regular players through injury and availability, Adam Cook took led the Ravens to a 24-17 victory against the National Two side. The Ravens showed enormous courage and strength of character to overcome the odds and secure 10th place in the Zoo League table. You can read the full match report on our website here.

A XV
For our A XV, phase two of the Eastern Counties Division One season begins on 3rd February. Teams are split by table placement and region and this ultimately means our A XV will be journeying further afield for their remaining games and they will face teams such as North Walsham, Norwich Union and Cottenham. The fixtures will soon be updated on the club website.