With the uncertainty of the league restructuring for next season, Chelmsford knew that their last two league games of the season could prove crucial.

Chelmsford were currently placed just above mid-table and visitors Braintree languishing at the bottom.

Braintree kicked off playing down the slope and the ball was safely caught by lock James Howe, who set up an excellent driving maul which the pack pushed several metres up the park.

Eventually the ball came out to scrum half Rob Earley, who shipped it on to Christian O'Hare at fly half and despite having players in support, he ran in the first try after just two minutes of play. O'Hare converted the try.

Three minutes later, Braintree were awarded a penalty and they made the conversion.

A Chelmsford scrum was then awarded but Braintree were given a free kick due to a Chelmsford offence.

They kicked down field but missed touch.

Two Chelmsford players were ready to receive the catch but neither called for the ball allowing the Braintree winger to pick up the bounce and run half way down the pitch to score.

The try was converted to take the score to 10-7 after 11 minutes.

Chelmsford then made good ground up the hill when the Braintree winger took an interception pass and powered his way down the pitch with no one able to catch him.

A conversion was awarded and Chelmsford found themselves trailing 17-7.

Chelmsford were quick to spur themselves back into action after 27 minutes when they were awarded a lineout close to the Braintree line.

A clean ball taken by the middle jumper was fed to hooker Kev Prior who passed it onto O'Hare who scored underneath the posts and leaving himself an easy conversion.

Chelmsford set up a good driving maul from the restart and the ball was fed out to the backs.

Andy Cryne made a good break through the centre and passed the ball on to Dom Fenton on the wing who ran in the try to take the score to 19-17.

The final points of the first half came from an O'Hare penalty kick on 37 minutes to leave the score at 22-17 at the interval.

The second half started in the same manner as the first had with Chelmsford scoring a try after two minutes and Cryne passing the ball on to Fenton who ran in the try.

The tries were now mounting up and Chelmsford continued their ascendancy.

The first forwards' try was scored by Paddy O'Riordan who powered his way over to score and six minutes later, a Braintree scrum was awarded but Chelmsford stole it back and it was quickly passed out to the backs enabling Les Jefferson to go over for the points.

Braintree got three points back through a penalty kick but these proved to be their last points of the game.

Chelmsford's final try came on 72 minutes when Earley scored a penalty with O'Hare converting and the game ended with another O'Hare penalty to conclude a good afternoon's work for the home team.

On Saturday Chelmsford play their final league game of the season at Old Albanians who are currently one point ahead of Chelmsford and the match kicks off at 3pm.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.