Saturday saw Chelmsford turn in a poor performance, compared to the game witnessed the previous weekend and one in which they never did themselves justice.

Vital league points were dropped and ones which may cost Chelmsford dearly when the leagues are restructured for next season.

Ipswich kicked off playing down the slope and from the outset put pressure on the home team who never got fired up.

Even the pack, who in their first few games have been dominant, struggled.

Five minutes into the game, the Ipswich hooker sustained a neck injury and had to leave the pitch.

The Air Ambulance was called due to problems accessing the field and this forced the match to be played on the neighbouring pitch.

On 15 minutes, the visitors scored their first points when their number 8 broke off the edge of a wheeled scrum and powered his way through to score. The try was converted.

Chelmsford allowed Ipswich to go even further ahead just before the end of the half with a second converted try.

Much of the game proved rather controversial with some 'strange' refereeing decisions and six yellow cards for players from both teams and one Chelmsford player being sent off.

Not surprisingly, the game rather lost its flow thereafter.

Chelmsford went close to scoring a push over try in the second half but instead of playing the advantage, the referee blew up and awarded Chelmsford a penalty which they failed to capitalise on.

The final points of the match again fell to Ipswich, who on the day were the better team.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Chelmsford entertain Colchester in a friendly at Coronation Park.

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