Hadleigh failings are cruelly exposed
RUGBY UNION: Chingford 31, Hadleigh 26. This was a game that Hadleigh gave away rather than lost. All the failings that were apparent, but not capitalised upon by Braintree last week, were cruelly exposed by Chingford.
RUGBY UNION
Chingford 31, Hadleigh 26
THIS was a game that Hadleigh gave away rather than lost.
All the failings that were apparent, but not capitalised upon by Braintree last week, were cruelly exposed by Chingford.
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Hadleigh began brightly with Carson converting a Joseland try after only 5 mins. Instead of building on this Hadleigh threw all advantage away.
The whole side seemed to sleepwalk through the next 20mins. during which Chingford, well marshalled by their half-backs, struck back with 3 tries.
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Running through a less than convincing Hadleigh defence at will. The only back who was consistently effective in defence was Eady but his efforts were undone by others.
With five minutes remaining before half-time Hadleigh rallied and Joseland went over to make the score at the break 20 – 12.
A few home truths from coach CT du Plessis galvanised Hadleigh into action and after good work from Jones Joseland completed his hat trick.
Almost from the restart Joseland was at it again, this time the conversion from Carson edged Hadleigh into a 26 – 20 lead.
At this point the visitors should really have wrapped the game up but despite having the lions share of possession a succession of turnovers, poor passing and lax decision making let Chingford off the hook.
Against the run of play Chingford managed to sneak a try from a set scrum but Hadleigh, now increasingly desperate, tried to extend their 1 point lead.
A speculative kick up-field by Chingford was not cleared and from the resulting ruck Hadleigh gave the penalty which put the home side back in the lead.
Even at this late stage Hadleigh, but for the litany of dropped passes and spurned overlaps, might still have won but another defensive foul up saw Chingford awarded the penalty which sealed the game.
Hadleigh have apparently not learned the lessons of their games against Ipswich and Braintree and still have to achieve steel & organisation in defence and consistency all round if they are to mount a serious challenge this season.
