SO NEARLY THERE !

In the end of this pulsating game the difference between the two antagonists was that, once again, the opposition turned their chances into points whereas Rochford just failed to convert their superiority into something tangible.

Make no mistake Westcliff were made to work very hard for their win which was said by many to rather flatter them.

In a long first half that was littered with stoppages due to some fractious moments resulting in a number of yellow cards for both teams it was the visitors who took the honours with three well taken penalties by their stand off to punish elementary errors by the home side.

That was only half the story as Rochford played with a new found determination and purpose that was certainly missing from the previous week to deny the classy looking Westcliff backs any room to play.

The set scrum was far more solid than of late and the lineout got back on track again, but it was in the loose that Rochford were very effective turning over some good ball and keeping the Westcliff pack on the back foot.

Although there were some good passing play from both sets of backs, where for Rochford Tom Ashton, Dan Needham and Matt Stewart looked impressive, neither side looked like crossing the line as defences were sound.

By the start of the second half the game had settled into a very keen contest with both outfits looking for the weak points and it was the home team that eventually broke the deadlock with a penalty kick from Ashton after some pressure play near the Westcliff line.

The line out was working very well with Ross Murphy, James Needham (playing in the second row) and George Chipper at the back providing good ball for scrum half Simon Webb to distribute. Webb was instrumental in a number of Rochford attacks and led by example.

Rochford gradually seemed to be dictating play and were putting together some good stuff and the next score was a result of this when the ball was moved at pace along the back line with a determined Tom Ashton racing over to score.

It really now was “Game on“ at 8–9 to Westcliff who had to hang on going into the last 15 minutes with their long time rivals sensing a possible big upset. Rochford’s forwards found extra reserves and the likes of Craig North, Josh Berry, George Chipper and Tom Corbet were causing the Westcliff defence many problems.

Unfortunately for the Magnolia Road boys they just could not put points on the board and like all good teams Westcliff rallied and came back late in the game to finish it off.

First another penalty kick for a Rochford indiscretion and the followed shortly after by an individual effort from the visitors no.19 who sped through a caught out Rochford defence to touch down under the posts and the try was duly converted.

So near but so far. Surely if Rochford continue to play at this intensity something good will comes from it and results will start to go their way.

Welwyn next week at home might just be the time to turn round this challenging season.

Team: Berry, Corbet, Chivers, Murphy,Needham J, North, Baker A, Chipper G, Webb, Needham D, Hall, Ashton, Allen, Stubbs, Stewart. Subs:Dyer, Spencer, Wiseman

Westcliff RFC Perspective on the Game !!!

Westcliff got back on the winning trail but Rochford made things extremely difficult for them at times.
"We were up for this one as it is a local derby and Rochford really wanted to dent our record," said Westcliff press officer Geoff Sawyer.
"The boys knew they were in a game and there were a few sin-binnings on both sides. Rochford did not completely shut us down but their defence certainly stopped at least two tries and the ball going to ground cost us two more."
The early pressure was from Westcliff but the home side kept a clean sheet. Rochford had their turn but they too met stern defence..
The game was 14 minutes old when Ben McKeith was given his firsts chance at penalty goal. He slotted it and five minutes later doubled the lead with his second shot.
Both sides tried things and both sides gained no reward and it was not until the 38th minute that more points went on the board and again they were from the boot of Ben McKeith.
Westcliff proved stronger in the scrum and several times pushed Rochford back. Several times they got a rolling maul going and gained much ground through it.
Just before the break Westcliff winger Paul Radley was away heading for the corner but the Rochford defence got across and a superb tackle put him in touch centimetres short of the line.
Early in the second half Rochford got on the scoreboard with a penalty goal but then Westcliff came back hard and Scott Gregory was held up just short of the line.
The ball was grassed during another promising attack and then Rochford gave hope to their supporters with an excellent try which went unconverted but narrowed the score to 8-9.
However Ben McKeith was on target again a few minutes later to make it 8-12 with a penalty goal.
Rochford's full back put in some brilliant defending including one clearing kick while facing his own line.
Westcliff's pack were now shoving Rochford back and Simon Jones was taking good possession all the time from the line out.
At last Westcliff found a way through the Rochford defence and colt Jack Jones finished off a move with an excellent try. Ben McKeith's conversion put Westcliff out of reach at 8-19 and there was no time for much more action before the final whistle.