PLENTY OF ICING ON THIS CAKE !

From a Rochford view this was a fitting conclusion to a terrific season as they overwhelmed a gallant but, in the end, an overrun Romford outfit with a display of superior teamwork and efficiency.
On a glorious sunny and very warm afternoon at Thurrock RFC both teams came out to do battle and it was Romford who looked the more composed side early on as they launched a number of attacks and retained possession of the ball. Rochford had to go into defence mode as they have done on a number of times and through excellent defensive play and critical errors by Romford managed to weather the storm.
In fact Rochford scored during this period with a Tom Ashton penalty shortly after a failed Romford effort. Rochford had to work hard to counteract the Romford scrummage and fast recycled ball from the loose.
In between Romford attacks Rochford launched a fast flowing move which nearly resulted in flanker Andy Baker scoring a surprise try but the attack broke down and Romford regrouped.
This did not last long as Sam Tape’s boys had now weathered the storm and were beginning to play some rugby.
Another Romford breakdown deep in their opponents territory saw Baker make amends for his earlier effort as he picked up the loose ball and raced along the touch line to score under the posts. Ashton converted and all of a sudden Rochford were ten points up and Romford had nothing to show for all their endeavours.
Further salt was spread into the wound when full back Sam Barnes finished off a lovely piece of running rugby to score.
Romford did see a return on their efforts at the end of the half with a well taken try and conversion to bring the score to 15 – 7 to the 'home' side at the break.
That was as it got for poor Romford as Rochford went up a few gears and with the towering presence of Tape and Ryan Stephenson in commanding form in the lineout there was plenty of ball on offer the scrum began to become a great deal stronger and everyone worked tirelessly in the loose, none more so than the excellent Matt Norris, ably assisted by Alan Barker and Andy Baker who supplied James Forbes and later Simon Webb with quick ball to be fed to the hungry Rochford backline.
In spite of a late change in the backs before the game with Ashton playing at stand off in place of the injured Dan Needham and Craig Webb partnering the ever reliable Darren Spencer everything slipped into gear. This is to the credit of the coaching staff and the players who make things look easy even when a lot of hard work goes into making it look so.
First off Tom Ashton kicked a penalty the to put his team further ahead and then wing Greg Stubbs ran from deep to score a try which Ashton converted. This must have been pleasing for the ex Thurrock player to show off his skills in front of many of his former colleagues.
Not to be outdone the very impressive Ashton, having another of his many good games, chipped over the opposition and beat them to the touchdown. Needless to say he converted his own try.
It was all Rochford now with forwards and backs showing off the skills and style of rugby in front of a large crowd that they have been playing all season. The Rochford front row of Chivers, McMahon and Ansell kept the pressure on in the tight and was the platform for the now rampant pack to drive at the tied Romford outfit. I know I can be a bore as regards Norris but he was simply massive in his contribution in this his final first team match. Equally dominant was big Alan Barker who has made this back row position over the past couple of years his own with powerful runs and terrific tackling.
There was still more to come as top points scorer Tom Ashton sped through for his second try and again, dare I say it, kicked over the conversion.
Great credit must go to the defiant Romford team who had giving Rochford runs for their money in both the other games this season but were not quiet on song this afternoon. They never gave up the fight, although they appeared dead on their feet towards the end.
If one could write the script for the perfect finish we could not have done it any better.
A scrum five metres out on the Romford try line with Rochford’s put in could only result in one ending. As the powerful eight drove forward the No.8 picked up and there was not a hope in hell that anybody was going to stop Norris driving over for that fairy tale ending.
What a match, What a perfect day for Rochford and What a season. We can now all take a well earned rest and think that whatever happens next season in this new, very tough, league nobody can take away this wonderful glow that resonates from what has gone before.

A great set of photographs can be seen at
http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m172/russell1977/RHRFC%20Vs%20RGRFC%20-%20EDF%20Senior%20Vase/?albumview=grid
Courtesy of Russ Shepherd !