15 GOOD REASONS FOR THIS TERRIFIC RESULT

It is very hard to express the admiration we all felt for the effort, commitment and heart that was shown on the pitch to enable this team to achieve the victory that they so deserved.

After a long week full of determination to play this difficult fixture a bare fifteen players took the long journey up to deepest Norfolk to honour that commitment.

That they did so and with such conviction is credit to all those involved but mostly to the team itself that really wanted to go back and do themselves justice after the previous meeting.

Nearly half the team had to play out of their normal positions which made the win even better and when stand off Tom Ashton glided, powered and outpace the opposition in the first few minutes to score and then kick the conversion we knew that this afternoon was going to be something special.

Holt reduced the deficit with a penalty kick but Rochford were playing with power and purpose up front and pace outside but it was the strength of their forwards that was the key.

The set scrum was solid and strong and their driving maul drove the Norfolk team backwards at a rate of knots which was extremely pleasing as that was what Holt had done to them when last they met.

From one of these surges Rochford drove over the Holt line and a delighted Greg.Whight claimed the touchdown and Ashton duly converted.

Against the strong wind Rochford continued to attack from all parts of the field and Ashton’s long, racking kicks kept them on the front foot.

Even a yellow card for the impressive but unfortunate no .8 Dave Coombe seemed to work in their favour as the Essex boys just upped their game and scored another try,this time Tom Corbet, playing on the wing ,took the honours and Ashton again converted.

With the scoreboard showing 21 – 3 at the break and with the wind in their favour Rochford turned round with a confidence that showed in all that they did.

Holt needed to increase the tempo if they wanted to stay in this game and that is what they did.The home side started to gain more possession and put together some good moves

They were rewarded with a well taken try which was duly converted to the delight of their vocal supporters but Rochford once again showed their class with a lovely passage of fast, open play to put centre Robert Prior away for a terrific try and that man Tom Ashton was again on hand to add the extra points.

As this absorbing match went into the final quarter Holt increased the tempo even more and broke away to score under the posts for a converted try.

This was when a tiring Rochford had to dig deep for those reserves of strength and energy to withstand the final onslaughts as they tackled like tigers and showed that other aspect of their excellent performance which was steadfast defence and a determination not to let all they had achieved slip away.

That they did this was a credit to their character and commitment and, although they were so many fine individual performances this was a defining team effort and the club say thank you for a great afternoon and wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy and successful new year.