October 28th
EDF Energy Cup draws are now on the RFU London site.  For Essex Clubs - Barking take on Cleve in the National Trophy,  Our last remaining club in the Intermediate Cup, Chingford have been drawn at home against Dover.  The Senior vase sees Colchester drawn against Saffron Walden, Harlow are at home to Charlton Park, Romford & GP travel to Harpenden, and Mersea Island have St Albans at home.  Rochford entertain Hemel Hempstead, whilst Thurrock have a home draw against Tonbridge Juddian.

In the Junior Vase Campion have a home draw against Thurston and May & Baker go to Cantabrigan, Old Brentwoods face the long trip to Holt but PegasusPalmerians have a home tie against Wisbech and finally Thames have a home match against Gillinham Anch.  All Cup matches take place on the 22nd November.

October 26th
A double header of youth rugby with the U16's playing in their first graded match against Kent at Charlton Park RFC and the U18's playing Herts at Eton Manor.  In rather wet conditions the U16's received an early wake up call as the Kent forwards brought pressure to bear on the Essex line and within two minutes earned the first score of the match with a try. Though Essex replied with a penalty some eight minutes later the Kent forwards dominated the loose mauls and rucks and by the end of the first quarter Kent were 12-3 ahead.  A well taken interception try from just inside the Kent half way line by Jonnathan Foong brought the score 12 -10 but Kent extended the margin just before half time with their second try of the match to make the score 17-10 at the half time whistle.   Though Essex fought well to try and get back into the game it was Kent who sealed the match half way through the second half with a well worked try which was converted to make the score 25-10.  With ten minutes to go an injury to the Essex second row following a collapsed scrum, led to the abandonment of the match.  Following a precautionary check at a local hospital he was allowed home.

Three late successive tries by Herts secured a 12 -30 win against our battling U18's.   Herts opened the scoring seven minutes into the first half with a penalty which was quickly followed up by a try six minutes later to give Herts a 0 - 8 lead.  It was a hard battle with both forwards working well but it was the Essex pack led by their England U16's prop Kit McCartney who brought the the first Essex score with a powerful run to the try line to make the score 5 - 8  A skewed conversion failed to add to the Essex points. With no further score before half time Essex went into the second half just 3 points behind.  Just after the restart it was Herts that took the initiative with a try a few minutes into the half.  From the kick off though, Essex kept the game in the Herts half of the pitch with Callum Howard suddenly wrong footing the defence to glide under the posts giving himself a try nd an easy conversion to take the score 12 - 13. Three  tries by Herts in the space of 6 minutes sealed the match in their favour.  Powerful and determined running by their forwards kept the game in the Essex half giving their forwards and backs a steady platform to finish the match 13 - 30.

October 25
Southend remain in the bottom three of Nation 2 following a 7 - 32 defeat at the hands of the league leaders Redruth.  A 48 - 9 win over Worthing at Goresbrook rouses the Barking faithful as Ah-ling leads the way with four individual tries.

The only bright spark in London two north with weekend was Westcliff's close win by 19-17 over Stevenage.  Chingford just lost out the penalty shootout by 6 pts to 9 against Diss as Eton Manor, Woodford both fail to bring home any points.  An intriguing unpredictable London 3 NE continues to fascinate.  This week it is Chelmsford at the top of the table with Thurrock and Rochford in close pursuit.  Only 4 points separate the eleven clubs in this league with only Norwich adrift at the bottom.

Colchester appear to be running away with London 4 NE with Upminster 4 points behind in second place.  Ipswich, Beccles and West Norfolk fill the remaining top spots.  All the results and tables can be viewed by using the Fixtures and results tab at the top of this page.

October 22nd
Draw for the next round of the EDF Cup Competitions have been made. 
(The full draw can be accessed via the RFU web site or visit www.rfulondon.com)

Matches are due to be played on the Saturday 22 November 2008

EDF National Trophy Rnd 2 (London & SE )

Barking v  Cleve

EDF Energy Intermediate Cup   Round 2 London

Chingford   v   Dover 

EDF Energy Senior Vase   Round 3 London

Colchester  v    Saffron Walden

Harlow v    Charlton Park

Harpenden v    Romford & Gidea Park

Mersea Island v    St Albans

Rochford Hundred  v    Hemel Hempstead

Thurrock  v    Tonbridge Juddian

EDF Energy Junior Vase   Round 4 London

Campion    v    Thurston

Cantabrigian     v    May & Baker

Holt    v    Old Brentwoods

Pegasus Palmerians      v    Wisbech

Thames    v    Gillingham Anch

October 19th
The County U16's programme started of today with a warm up match against Middlesex at Bancroft RFC. A win by 20 - 17 showed how evenly matched the two sides were  This was no easy game for both sides and gave the coaches the opportunity to try out several combinations in preparation for the graded matches which begin next weekend Sunday the 26th October with a game against Kent at Charlton Park RFC.  Next Sunday the U18's also continue with their series of matches with a game against Hertfordshire at Eton Manor RFC.  The U16's match kicks off at 11am with the U18's at 2pm 

IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE MATCHES DO NOT FORGET THAT BRITISH SUMMER ( What Summer?)  TIME ENDS ON SUNDAY MORNING AT 2AM AND THE CLOCKS GO BACK ONE HOUR

October 18th
A fair mixture of results from the EDF Cup rounds this weekend.  Barking go though in the National trophy beating Worthing by 17 points to 10.  Woodford loose to Havant and Eton Manor withdrew.  Chingford achieve a workmanlike score of 5 - 45 against Tunbridge Wells whereas Westcliff withdraw.  In the Senior Vase there were wins for Harlow, Mersea Island, Colchester, Romford, Thurrock and Rochford Hundred, but out go Basildon, Billericay, Canvey, Braintree, Brentwood, Upminster and Chelmsford.

In the Junior Vase, Old Brentwoods, May & Baker, PegasusPalmerians and Campion go through to the next round.  The result of Millwall v Thames is not yet available.

Southend came away from Tyndale without any points in National 2 as they suffer another close defeat 29 - 20 leaving them still in the bottom three whilst remaining in touch with the teams in mid table with only 5 points separating the six team above.  Next weekend its back to League Rugby throughout the County.

October 13th
A good start to the County U20's programme saw 22 players at the first session.  Coaches are invited to make their nominations to the squad via Mark Diable see the U20's link above for details of the programme.

October 12th
Bright sunny weather, a superb pitch and a good crowd all turned out to see the beginning of our Youth County Rugby matches.  This weekend it was the  U18's opportunity to show what they can do.  Despite a slow start and some nervous handling on the part of both sides Essex gradually took control to end up with a 31 - 0 win over Eastern Counties.....match report.

October 11th
Double success in national leagues this week brought out the sunshine over the weekend.  Southend really went to town this weekend thrashing Waterloo by 64 - 26 and Barking triumphing away at Havant by 11 points to 18.  Though Southend remain in the bottom three they are only points away from the next five clubs and anything could happen this early in the season.  Barking meanwhile climb up to ninth place and now need to maintain and consolidate their position.

Woodford 16 - 29 win over Welwyn earns them 6th place in London 2 north.  Chingford manage to snatch a point from their 12 all draw against Stevenage but Eton Manor and Westcliff both failed to earn any points this weekend as they both lost to top of the division opposition.  Iin London  3 north east,  Thurrock top the table with Rochford, Chelmsford Romford & GP and Braintree all in hot pursuit.

London Four north east is led by Colchester, with Ipswich and West Norfolk being chased by Upminster in fourth place and Dagenham in fifth.  All the results and tables can be accessed by using our links at the top to this page.

October 6th
The draws are published for the next rounds of the RFU EDF Cup competitions.  To access them you can use the following links:

NATIONAL TROPHY     -  18 OCTOBER 2008

INTERMEDIATE CUP    -  18 OCTOBER 2008

SENIOR VASE               -  18 OCTOBER 2008 

JUNIOR VASE               -   18 OCTOBER 2008

October 5th
County U18's travelled to Warlingham for their warm up match against Surrey.  Despite the appalling weather conditions both teams played the match in four quarters, so giving the coaches the opportunity to try out in a match environment all the players in their squads.  Though Surrey won two of the quarters with a try in each the honours were square with no scores in the other two quarters.  Head Coach Simon Hoult said after the match "The payers will be all the better for having played in a match situation against some very good unknown opposition players.  Surrey are quite a strong outfit and in the two quarters they won they earned their tries with powerful forwards play.  We have some work to do but I have a quad made up of excellent players and they are full of Character.  I think we should be able to pull it all together by next weeks match against Eastern Counties at Ilford Wanderers RFC." ... Match pictures

At Saracens RFC, two Essex youth players made the Senior Squad in Saracens' Anglo Welsh Cup match against Llanelli Scarlett's.  Andy Saul formerly of Bancroft and Woodford started the match, with 17 year old Jackson Wray coming on after 52 minutes for his debut appearance in the senior Squad.

October 4th
Southend crash out at Cinderford 48-6, but Barking youngsters, in front of their new 300 seater stand inflict retribution with a crushing 50 - 0 defeat of Bridgewater & Albion. Eton Manor get their first points of the season on the board with a 12 - 18 win over Letchworth and Woodford turn on the style with a 40 - 25 win over Rusilip which brings them up to 6th place just behind Chingford who just lost out to Civil Service 17 - 20.  Westcliff fail to find their early form as they just loose out to Welwyn 12 - 19.

In London 3 NE Rochford get knocked off the top spot as they get beat by Harlow in a thrilling match of the day 34-32.  Romford & GP finally find their form at the expense of Mersea Island with a 7 - 19 win on the Island.  Thurrock turn on the power to go top of this league with a 6-51 win over Saffron Waldon and Chelmsford earn another Essex Club success with a 12 - 17 win over Norwich.  On the downside Brentwood loose to Enfield 22 - 15 and Braintree loose to Sudbury 27 - 21.

Colchester top league 4NE with a 22-31 win over Beccles.  Basildon upset the Dagenham applecart with a 27-12 win to reverse the loss at Upminster last weekend.  Upminster meanwhile had the tables turned on them by Billericay who took the points with an 11-6 win.  South Woodham also missed out on the points this week as they went down 16 - 19 to Ipswich,.