Manor welcomed local rivals Chingford to the New Wilderness this week looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat to league leaders North Walsham the previous week. Chingford had not had a good start to the season but had shown signs of improvement with a comfortable victory last week. With bad weather during the entire game it was Chingford who played the elements the better of the two sides and came away with a deserved victory against a very lacklustre Manor team.

Chingford kicked off the game and were soon on the attack when Manor made a mess of securing the ball, the visitors ran powerfully at Manor, keeping possession well and working through the phases. Chingford’s No 8 then made a break through the middle of the park making 40 meters and in doing so took play into Manors 22. Once here Chingford again went through the phases, gradually working their way towards Manors line and despite some stout defence of their line Manor conceded the first try of the match when Chingford went over from short range. The conversion was successful and after 5 minutes the visitors had taken a 0 – 7 lead.

From the restart Manor went on the attack and kept Chingford pinned inside their half, but were unable to make the decisive breakthrough despite winning a number of penalties. Harry Bone showed a good turn of pace when from close to the halfway line he turned his opposite number and raced past a number of defenders before being brought to ground inside Chingford’s 22 where the ref awarded Manor a penalty which was kicked for a lineout. Unfortunately Manor were penalised at the lineout allowing Chingford to relieve the pressure. After 20 minutes the score still remained 0 – 7.

Despite Manor having the majority of possession and territory it was Chingford who scored the next points. Manor were being penalised at the breakdown which allowed their opponents to work their way into the hosts 22. Here after an attacking lineout Chingford again pounded Manors line eventually going over for an unconverted try. After 25 minutes Chingford led 0 – 12.

Manor had to respond quickly, which they did. From the restart Manor competed for the ball and under pressure Chingford put up a high box kick which was fielded by Cameron Dutch. He set off on a counter attack and after linking up with Jamie Millais Manor won a couple of quick penalties in succession. Manor chose to kick to touch and with their lineout working well they caught the ball and set up a driving maul going over the Chingford line from 10 meters out where Billy Cosma was credited with the score. Despite the atrocious conditions Dutch was successful with the touchline conversion bringing Manor back into the game at 7 – 12 after 30 minutes.

Chingford’s next score came after a somewhat disputed refereeing decision, Chingford put up another high kick which was taken by Dutch inside his 22 where he called for the mark, he took a quick tap and go but was tackled within 2 meters, as Manor tried to recycle the ball, instead of penalising Chingford for tackling the player early the ref penalised Manor for being offside at the ruck. The easy three points were taken by Chingford and with the half coming to a close they had increased their lead to 7 – 15.

Still there was time for Manor to hit back and after winning back possession from the re-start they soon turned over the ball and after a driving run from Ollie Waugh Manor were awarded a penalty for a high tackle which they kicked to touch. Again they secured their lineout throw and moved the ball quickly to centre Jake Campey and as he stepped inside his opposite number he was tackled high around the throat, the ref awarded a penalty and sent Chingford’s centre to the sin bin. Dutch slotted the penalty shot at goal and the half came to a close with Manor trailing 10 – 15.

Manor kicked off the second half winning possession and after a good run by Millais they camped inside Chingford’s 22. Here the visitors gave away a number of penalties which Manor opted to take scrummages at. From one scrum Jack Sullivan tried his luck as he picked up from the rear and tried to drive over the line, but was stopped by excellent defence, the ball was recycled and George Cosma powered towards the line but was agonisingly inches short as he tried to place the ball down. The ref though was playing advantage for yet another penalty in the red zone for Manor.

As hard as Manor tried they were unable to break down Chingford’s uncompromising defensive efforts and eventually they gave away the penalty that allowed Chingford to relieve the pressure and get outside their own 22.

For almost the first time in the second half Chingford had some possession inside Manors half and after a couple of good forward runs they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and against the run of play they increased their lead with a successful shot at goal to 10 – 18 after 22 minutes of the second half.
The score seemed to revitalise Chingford and they now enjoyed a period of possession which they used to good effect, working their way towards Manors 22 where the forwards set up clean ball for their flyhalf to score a very well taken drop goal and so take their lead to 10 – 21, Manor would now have to score twice in the remaining 15 minutes that were left in the match.

Manor again camped inside Chingford’s 22 but were again repelled by an excellent defensive display from Chingford. Eventually Manor did find away through, this after Chingford lost another man to the sin bin, this time their prop was penalised for taking the scrum down a number of times as Chingford struggled to hold Manors drive. With each penalty Manor took another scrum and eventually the ball went to the backs where Campey went down the blindside, drew a couple of defenders before feeding the ball to Bone on the wing who raced in at the corner. The conversion was missed but with a few minutes of time left to play Manor trailed 15 – 21.

The final few minutes of the game were played out with Manor unable to launch the kind of decisive attack needed to score any further points and at the final whistle Chingford couldn’t hide their delight at victory.

On the day Manor didn’t do enough to win the game, Chingford played the elements better and took their limited opportunities to score points, where as Manor struggled to breakdown Chingford’s defence in what can only be described as a lethargic, below standard performance from the home side.

With no league fixture next week Manor will have time to regroup and hopefully welcome back some of their injured players who are now back in training before another difficult away game at Old Haberdashers.