Ashton Boot Off Spirited Mersea !

A combination of an excellent forward display, speedy support play and the punishing kicking of Tom Ashton took the sting out of a strong Mersea side that eventually ran out of steam.
Mersea Island started with all guns blazing using their massive pack to win ball for their backs to apply early pressure and within a few minutes were five points up. A try by second row David Bredin was well deserved after some fierce Mersea approach work which left Rochford thinking deeply that they had a game on their hands. Rochford soon responded with some pressure play of their own through some quick ball work and Mersea concede a penalty which the on tune Ashton slotted over to reduce the deficit. However Mersea responded with a penalty of their own through scrum half Jon Williams.
Rochford’s set scrum was taking time to settle down against a much bigger outfit but there were signs that it was not going to be the one sided affair of their last meeting earlier in the season. The home team were winning good ball from the line out where the ever dominant Ryan Stephenson remained supreme, ably assisted by George Chipper at the back and Bradley Day at the front of the line. Mersea continued to call the tune during the rest of the half although another Ashton penalty kept Rochford breathing down Mersea’s back and at the break the home side were only 6 – 8 down.
It was an entirely different game in the second half as a good talking to by coach Dean Cutting sorted out the weaknesses in his side performance and the boys went up a gear. Ashton, playing at stand off, edged his side in front for the first time in the match with another well struck penalty kick before wing Greg Stubbs, who had an impressive afternoon, showed off his undoubted skills by slicing through Mersea’s defence and outpace them to the line. Ashton converted and Rochford settled down and started to play some good rugby.
Mersea still were dangerous and a further penalty kick by Williams reduced the score to 16 – 11 but that was as good as it got for the Islanders as gradually their game diminished under some intense Rochford pressure. The Rochford scrum began to exert pressure on the Mersea eight driving them off the ball and allowing the back row to force the pace. Chipper was again outstanding as was Alan Barker in the loose. The forwards provide the platform and the backs responded with Ashton in full control with wide, long kicks when needed to force Mersea back into their half.
Two more Ashton penalties punished Mersea who had resorted to trying to disrupt Rochford at any cost much to the disapproval of the referee. Mersea looked a spent force as their big forwards tired under the pace at which Rochford forwards and backs combined to carry the game to them.
The icing on the cake came late in the game when wing Matt Stewart finished off a fast flowing move to run in under the posts for the excellent Ashton to covert and take his points haul to 19 for the match.
Considering the long lay off due to Christmas and the weather it was the kind of performance Rochford needed, especially their second half display which was impressive. Another plus was the return from injury of captain Sam Tape who came on as substitute later in the game.
Team:- Chivers, McMahon, Berry (Ansell), Stephenson, Day (Tape), Barker, Baker A, Chipper, Forbes (Webb S), Ashton, Stubbs, Spencer, Barber, Stewart, Barnes.

Here's Mersea's Take On Things ! - Mersea Island 1st XV kicked off their New Year campaign with a disappointing 29-11 loss away to league leaders Rochford Hundred RFC. Despite making an excellent start to the game, and leading for over 50 minutes, entering the final quarter the Islanders lost their structure and discipline, conceding some easy points & allowed Rochford to run away with the game. The Islanders travelled to south Essex in positive mood, and were boasted by the return of injured players Bradshaw, Blacklock & Murrell to the squad. The Island players took the game to Rochford from the kick off and dominated the early exchanges of play, with some direct hard running, deservedly taking an early 5-0 lead. The opening Mersea score came from lock Dave Bredin, who had an outstanding match, making powerful breaks and harassing the home pocession all afternoon.
With a lion share of the poccession & territory the Islanders should have extended their lead but only some solid defence prevented Mersea breaking through for further scores. Rochford soon found their rhythm, and began to assert some pressure on the Mersea team. The home back-row were always a threat, working well in unison and the powerful blindside flanker constantly broke over the gain line. To their credit, the Mersea defence stood strong and for all the home side’s pressure, their only reward was a penalty from home fly-half Tom Ashton. Having weathered the Rochford storm, the Islanders finished the half strongly just as they started it. Some good probing kicks from both Paul Le Marquand & Williams gave the Islanders some good attacking positions, from which the dominant pack were able to drive and release the backs. Centres Mike Fields & Darryl Walters made some excellent surges into the heart of the home defence with some last ditch tackling preventing further scores. Jon Williams slotted a penalty to extend the Mersea lead to 8-3, and Rochford replied with a 2nd penalty from Aston 8-6. Mersea nearly clinched a score on the stroke of half-time, following a period of concentrated pressure, a clever cross kick from centre Mike Fields with the home defence stretched, failed to be gathered and a certain try went begging.
Leading 8-6 at the interval, the Islanders felt confident they could up their game in the 2nd half to clinch a victory. Rochford had other ideas, and started the 2nd period with great intensity, purpose and conviction. The loss of prop Danny Blacklock was a major blow, as Rochford gained the upper hand in both the scrums & lineout, which prevented any platform for the Mersea backs. Mersea started conceding silly penalties, allowing the home side’s kicker Ashton to keep slotting kicks, which he did with ease and extend the Rochford lead to 19-8. Mersea displayed great team spirit and fought back well, with Toby Green, Brendan Cook and Andy Windridge all battling hard. Williams slotted his 2nd penalty to reduce the deficit to 11-19. However, with the Mersea side tiring, Rochford turned the screw and with some close decisions going against the visitors, including the sin-binning of wing James Goldring, Rocford ran in a late converted try and another penalty to seal victory. The final score line and margin was somewhat harsh on the valiant Island performance but this is the brutal reality of rugby in London Div.3. The players know their weaknesses and know they need to work on competing with focus for the full 80 minutes in future matches. However there were plenty of positives to take from the hard fought encounter and good to see the return of some key players for the Islanders.