CHINGFORD brought the curtain down on their season with a nail-biting extra-time victory over National League Three South side Barking to win the Essex Senior Cup.

The Waltham Wayers erased the memory of a disappointing league campaign with a tremendous comeback in extra-time against their more illustrious and professional opponents, after 80 minutes of enthralling rugby failed to separate the two sides.

Although the game was played at Barking’s ground, the raucous Chingford contingent made it feel like a home game for the local club.

It was Barking who took an early lead, however, with an early try and a penalty. But Chingford responded in perfect fashion, with Luke Campbell’s powerful try and Kurt Forward’s conversion cutting the deficit to a single point.

Forward then took the game into his own hands, first beating a series of challenges and scampering over the line, before adding another five points with a conversion and a penalty.

Jan Bonney set up Campbell for his second as Chingford cancelled out another Barking score before the break.

The hosts were rampant in the second half however, and they capitalised on some ill-discipline from the visitors to level the scores with three penalties.

Barking had the momentum, and they scored an early try to edge a step closer to the finishing line. As the clock ticked down, it looked as if it wasn’t going to be Chingford’s day, but with just four minutes left they produced a stunning move for the decisive score.

Ben Jeynes fed Oliver Hoad, who, in turn, spun the ball out to Matthew Hastings, and he applied the finishing touches to level the scores. Forward added the all-important extras, before rounding off proceedings with his second try of the day, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch. Campbell picked up the man of the match award, and the cup was presented to skipper Jeynes after the match.