Rochford allowed a average Harpenden outfit to come away with the honours in this game which really should have been theirs. Even the opposition admitted they were let off the hook but credit to them for taking their chances when they came and playing a good tactical game in the second half.
It was so different in the first session as fired up Rochford came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and forced the visitors into early errors on a wet and windy pitch.
From the off Rochfordâ€™s pack was dominant, shoving Harpenden in the tight and looking strong in the lineout and loose. Within a few minutes the home side forced their opponents into their twenty two and second row Matt Norris powered over for a try which Tom Ashton converted. The rest of the half was mostly Rochford launching attacks from backs and forwards but unable to convert any into points as Harpenden defended well to keep them out. Rochford did not help the situation by making errors at crucial times and over elaborating with ball in hand.
The yellow carding off two Rochford and one Harpenden player at the same time did not help matters the pattern of play continued in Rochfordâ€™s favour.
There was certainly plenty of good ball available with Ryan Stephenson outstanding in the lineout and the other forwards working hard in the loose and set pieces. Matt Norrisâ€™s move to the second row has created more power there and assisted the solid front row of Paul Ansell, Scott Chivers and Josh Berry to put greater pressure on in the tight. This allowed the back row of impressive flanker Alan Barker, aggressive ferret Andy Baker and the ever more influential No.8 George Chipper to show off their skills. A 7â€“0 scoreline to the home team at the break was never going to be enough but with the way Rochord were playing it should only have been a matter of time before more points came.
The best laid plans of mice and men and all that came into force in the second session as the team just did not perform but the Herfordshire side did as they knew were only one score adrift. They started to gain more decent possession and used the long kick upfield to advantage keeping play in the Rochford half and invariably in their twenty metre area. Try as they did Rochford just could not retain the ball for any length of time and wasted it when they did Harpenden slotted over a penalty to reduce the arrears and followed up with a well taken converted try to edge ahead.
Rochford now knew they had a game on their hands but they just could not respond to the challenge as they normally do. Injuries to Stephenson and Andy Baker added to the problems although their replacements gave good account of themselves and were not the cause of the teams demise. The writing was on the wall when the rejuvenated Harpenden team went further ahead with another penalty and then followed up with a try. The Magnolia Road boys began to wake up and started to play some rugby again. With only their second visit into the oppositionâ€™s twenty metre area they launched a sweeping attack which finished with full back Matt Stewart diving over in the corner. It was an excellent try and there should have been more like that. Unfortunately it was too little too late as the final whistle blew to see Rochfordâ€™s exit from the EDF Energy Senior Vase for another season. The best of luck to Harpenden in the next round as they will probably need it.

Team: Ansell (Dyer), Chivers, Berry, Stephenson(Day), Norris, Barker, Baker, Chipper, A.Forbes, Needham, Baker J.Stemp, Ashton, Stubbs (Barber M), Stewart, Barnes.

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