ROCHFORD STORM INTO FINAL !

This week it was the the semi final of the Essex Intermediate Cup and the game turned out to be an exhibition of free flowing running rugby by the visitors and, in the second half, by the hosts side as they launched a comeback of sorts.
With a somewhat changed side from the previous Saturday Rochford opened the scoring with a Matt Stewart individual effort to settle the boys in black down early on. Stewart followed up with a second try soon after and Rochford were in the driving seat with the forwards winning excellent ball from lineout and loose where second row Ross Murphy was outstanding all game.
The selection of big Craig Webb at full back in place of the absent Sam Barnes paid dividends as he finished off some slick ball work to run in a try which Tom Ashton converted. Young Michael Stemp filling in for the injured Darren Spencer in the centre also showed his power with some strong running to break down the Braintree defence.
It was all Rochford on this bright spring afternoon against a strangely lethargic Braintree outfit that seemed to have lost the will to compete. Further tries by impressive stand off Dan Needham and another by Stewart to bring up his hat-trick both converted by Ashton concluded the Rochford scoring in the first half. A late converted try by Braintree brought the scoreline to 31 – 7 to Rochford at the break and the beginnings of a rout appeared on the cards.
Whatever was said to the deflated Braintree team at half time seemed to do the trick as they came out more like the side we know and love. They were more aggressive in all aspects of their play and Rochford were caught on the hop as the home team scored a quick try which was converted by stand off Monks.
Replacement wing Jon Baker restored the balance with a good try which Ashton converted but the match had become a little fractious at this stage and some niggles between the two packs seemed to affect Rochford more than Braintree.
The home outfit applied more pressure and were rewarded with their third try of the game to reduce the arrears to 14 - 38 and although Rochford were never going to lose this encounter the feel good factor was being eroded especially when flanker Alan Barker was red carded during the last quarter of what was, otherwise, an entertaining affair.
Possibly the best move of the match came late in the game and was icing on the cake for Rochford as tearaway prop Scott Chivers supported and finished off a wonderful piece of fast running rugby through many hands and the ever reliable Ashton slotted over the conversion to bring proceedings to an end.
Some of the rugby on show was of top quality and a compliment to this Rochford side that in spite of a number of enforced changes worked smoothly together and brought out the best in each other.
Credit must also go to Braintree who pulled themselves together and in the second half competed well and scored twice to keep some degree of self respect which otherwise could have been a drubbing.
A very good team performance from the lads and we look forward to our sixth Essex Cup final appearance in successive years.
Back to league action next week against a strong Romford side which will keep their feet very firmly on the ground.

Team: Chivers, McMahon, Wright (O’Riordan), Tape, Murphy, Barker, Baker A, Norris, Webb S. (Forbes), Needham, Stewart, Stemp, Ashton, Stubbs (Baker J), Webb C, Davies.

BRAINTREE RFC MATCH REPORT
Report by Barrie Winwood

The Black and ambers suffered their second defeat to Rochford in the space of a week as they crashed out of the Essex Cup. Tree were hoping the London NE3 leaders might rest a few players for this knock-out encounter but they found the visitors in indefatigable mood. Despite putting in a performance which enabled them to leave the field with
their heads held high there was only ever one team in the game and it is Rochford who will face Romford & Gidea Park in the final.
The confident visitors went on the offensive from the word go and winger Matt Stewart went over in the left hand corner following a flowing move after just five minutes. Tree hit back straight away a good catch and drive move from a line-out led to Jamie Prince crossing the line only for the ref to decide the ball was held up. This close call only served to stir the away side into action and after 15 minutes Stewart scored his second try of the game from another swift backs move to give his side a 10-0 lead.
Ten minutes later the Rochford winger completed his hat-trick when he collected the ball following a line-out to touch down under the posts, allowing Tom Ashton to convert for a 17-0 lead. Tree were struggling to get into the game and a penalty awarded against them for a high tackle was quickly taken by fly-half Needham who gave Ashton the opportunity to pot another conversion. The home side went further behind after another penalty to the visitors ended with Stewart crashing over for his fourth try of the match, which Ashton turned into a 31-0 lead with his boot. But they clawed back some of the deficit on the stroke of half time when Dan Johnson put in a 30-yard before slipping the ball to stand-off Charles Monk who scored under the posts and then converted his own try.
Encouraged by their late first half score Tree piled on the pressure early in the second half and some excellent ball handling and retention by the pack saw prop Jamie Prince drive over for a well earned second try. Monk's conversion reduced the arrears to 31-14 and Tree threw everything into
attack in a brave bid to spring a shock comeback. But they left themselves vulnerable at the back to ship another converted try which gave Rochford a 38-14 lead which sealed the game. With 20 minutes remaining a fine run and switch by Tommy Chapman saw outside centre Tom Green cross the line for an unconverted score which pegged Rochford's
lead back to 38-19. But despite having a man sent off for punching following an altercation between the front rows the visitors still had time to add another converted try late on to cap a convincing 45-19 victory.