ROCHFORD SCRAPE BY IN DISAPPOINTING GAME

ROCHFORD HUNDRED : 13 POINTS CHELMSFORD : 10 POINTS

Rochford just about did enough to justify this win but it was not a pretty sight with the team collecting 4 yellow cards and at one time playing with 13 men.

It was the old story of falling foul of refereeing decisions and reacting badly.

It was never going to be an easy encounter away at Chelmsford on their sloping pitch and a strong wind to contend with.

So it was to Rochford’s credit that ,playing up the hill in the first half they were able to confine a good and competent Chelmsford to a penalty kick at half time.

The game had been a dour affair with most of the play centred round the set piece and close quarter work. And through good defence the boys in black had kept the home team at bay.

With the advantage of the slope and prevailing wind Rochford should have dominated the second session but the match was a fractious affair with Chelmsford applying pressure up front and launching attacks from the base of scrums and lineout and Rochford falling foul of new tackle laws. The result was ,for the most part, the visitors having to play with reduced numbers due to yellow card offences..

Having said that the immaculate boot of centre Tom Ashton was on hand to level the scores with a well taken penalty after a Chelmsford infringement but the home side went ahead when they broke up field to score an opportunist try and conversion.

3 – 10 down going into the last quarter was not somewhere Rochford needed to be and they began to pull their socks up and attack their hosts. Long, raking kicks down field put them into good positions but were frustrated by further poor discipline and turn over ball allowing Chelmsford off the hook.

Another Ashton penalty reduced the arrears to four points and eventually the breakthrough came. A fast attacking move involving a number of players resulted in live wire full back Sean Conneely slipping over for a try. The ever reliable Ashton kicked the conversion from a wide angle and suddenly Rochford were ahead for the first time in the game.

Ten more minutes of time remained and a tiring Chelmsford threw everything at their guests but good defence and a few errors allowed the clock to tick away and after what seemed an eternity the referee blow the somewhat overworked whistle for the final time and a relieved Rochford scrambled another hard fought win.

Some good features such as another fine display of defensive rugby and an away win but a number of issues to be sorted out, mainly in the team and personal discipline department and getting to grips with the new laws .

If Rochford want to seriously challenge for the right to be promoted they need to address their attitude to referees who are there to administer the laws and ensure both teams adhere to them. Some referees ,like players , can have off games,but the good sides learn to put this aside and get on with the job in hand an ensure that they do not let their colleagues down.