CHINGFORD secured their passage through to the final of the Essex Senior Cup with a superb win over National League Two side Southend.

The Waltham Wayers upset the odds after an excellent all-round display and despite falling behind to a try early on.

A jinking run from Luke Campbell almost brought Chingford level but he managed to drop the ball before grounding it over the line.

The team pressed on undeterred, however, and drew level minutes later when Storm Pearton crashed over.

Southend scored again but Kurt Forward kept Chingford in the game with a penalty before the interval.

The in-form Dave Knight scampered down the wing and outstripped the opposition’s defence before touching down to grab the lead for the local side.

A penalty from the hosts pegged them back as the see-saw theme continued.

Jan Bonney’s first try of the season and a conversion from Forward helped Chingford streak into a seven-point lead.

The latter arrowed over two more penalties to leave the visitors home and dry, while the hosts could only manage a late consolation try.

Chingford coach Stefan Smith was full of praise for his troops after the game. “With all the changes we had made to the side we were not expecting to come away with the win.

“We knew with the calibre of players we have available to us that we would always give these guys a game, but we played some intelligent rugby today, and never looked as if we were going to lose.

“We could have scored over 40 points today. This team hadn’t lost for six months but they folded to our never-say-die attitude.”