Match Report by Graham Pratt

As matches go this was not one of Rochford’s finest moments as they came through this error strewn and disappointing encounter.They about deserved the result due to the extra skill and speed of their talented and young back division but a fired up Upminster took them all the way and the visitors were slightly flatted by the margin of victory.
From the off it was apparent that the home side were out to pressurise Rochford into errors through their aggressive forwards and throughout the game they had the majority of possession and territory but could not convert this into points.
After twenty minutes of furious defensive work where ball was won,given away and won back again by both teams flanker Andy Baker, making a successful return to the side, scored an opportunist try which centre Tom Ashton converted.
Shortly after this impressive wing Matt. Stewart sped over to finish off what was probably the best move of the game. Ball won deep in Rochford’s half was move swiftly through various hands to find its way to Stewart. Good simple rugby played at pace which only needed good ball retention and feed from basic phases for it to happen more often.
Unfortunately these attributes were in short supply all afternoon. Upminster’s continued to exert pressure and were rewarded with a kicked penalty to reduce the score to 12 -3 to Rochford at the break.
Up the hill in the second half Rochford continued to make life difficult for themselves with poor retention and errors to give advantage back to Upminster who moved the ball wide on many occasions and used long kicks to keep Rochford on the back foot and only the lack of finishing power and good Rochford defence kept the score the same.
The home side were eventually awarded a penalty from the continued pressure which they duly converted into another three points.
As the game progressed into the final quarter Rochford‘s extra fitness and speed with the ball in hand paid off as Matt Stewart again ran in for his second try and then the other wing Jon Baker, who had looked sharp all game when he had the ball, raced past the Upminster defence to finish off the scoring. Neither try was converted and Rochford had to endure a number more minutes of Upminster attacking before the referee blew the final whistle to bring this painful exercise to a close.
It was not all doom and gloom as it gave coach Dean Cutting a chance to blood some promising young players such as Sam Barnes and Bradley Day, both of whom did well, and good performances also from prop Josh Berry, George Chipper and Dan Needham.
Experienced prop Paul Ansell picked up a worrying injury and had to come off and the future absence of Ross Murphy through injury for a few week’s will put pressure on the squad but there is strength in depth as has been shown over recent weeks.

Team:- Ansell (Chivers), McMahon,Berry, Tape, Day (Davies) Baker A, Norris, Chipper, Barnes (Webb.S), Needham, Stewart, Spencer, Ashton, Baker J. Keating.