London Two North: Chingford 41 Ruislip 9
Ruislip are already staring at a very long season just two weeks into the new campaign.
The Maroons suffered their second defeat on the trot away to Chingford, who finished third last year to the Maroons' fourth, and the fact that the loss left them rooted to the foot of the table is not the only problem.
The Ruislip treatment room is bursting after less than three hours of competitive action, with a crippling 17 first team players on the sidelines.
Those left standing prepared well but started badly and a failed clearance down the middle of the pitch resulted in the Chingford full back attempting a drop goal from 30 metres, which bounced off the top of the post to hand the hosts the lead.
Almost immediately Ruislip were again under pressure at a scrum deep in their half and when the No 8 picked up and embarked on a strong run, two or three passes later Chingford scored in the corner.
Ruislip hit back immediately, chasing well from the restart and when Chingford failed to release at the tackle just outside the 22, Ross Wilson took the three points on offer to cut the gap to 8-3.
A pattern developed as Chingford exerted pressure and took their chances, and while Ruislip turned ball over they were unable to press home any advantage gained.
Wilson landed two more penalties but Ruislip trailed 19-9 at half-time.
John Lacey challenged the team to turn the game around but despite a brave effort after the break Ruislip were hampered by their injuries and they could not make any impact as Chingford eventually ran out 40-9 winners.
Ryan Owens impressed on his debut on the wing, defending well and making at least one try saving tackle and possibly two, while counter attacking to good effect when he had the chance and he was only denied a try by being held back illegally.
Attack coach Dave Samuel said: "I'd like to say thanks to the boys that stepped in under great pressure and to the boys playing out of position.
"You can't ask for any more commitment-wise.
"Unfortunately we are struggling a great deal with availability at the moment and you can't go into competitive matches such as this with that many players out.
"The commitment and spirit remains high and under the circumstances that's great credit to the lads. It will come, we just need patience and to keep working."
Stand-in skipper Adam Cristol added: "We don't feel that we are far away, we just need a bit of luck with injuries.
"We can still have a good season, we are only two games in so plenty of time to get some players back and start to play the kind of rugby we know we can."
Ruislip entertain Westcliff at 3pm on Saturday.
* The second team also went down, losing 44-24 to London One side Old Albanians in its first game in the prestigious Canterbury Leagues.
Mark Brown, Adam West, Chunky Long and Keith Jones got the tries.
Coach Ron Matthews said: "I was delighted with the effort of our scratch side particularly youngsters James Dixon and Sean Cosgrove - it's a big step up from Herts/Middlesex Merit Table which we won last season but once we get back to full strength we will surprise a few sides." [25a0] Jack Knights converted 10 out of 10 kicks as the U14s beat Barnet 70-0.
Robert Baragwanath opened the scoring with the first of his two tries, Ryan Raymond grabbed his maiden try followed by scores for Joe Thwaite, Ian Rowe (2), Matt Coker, Ben Edwards and Abbas Alladad, before saving the best for last when the ball went down the line and back again for Knights to score and then complete his perfect kicking dis-play.
