ROCHFORD GO TOP OF TABLE

Rochford celebrated their top spot position with a six try performance, picking up bonus points , and were good value for it.

It was not a classic performance by any means as chances went begging and a lack of awareness and finishing let them down but as a team they were the more skilful and focussed of the two sides.

Take nothing away from Ipswich who came to play rugby and spent all afternoon doing so ,sometimes to their own disadvantage as they made many mistakes which Rochford exploited.

From the start it was a much more positive and determined Rochford outfit that took the field and attacked from the first whistle.

This paid off within a few minutes after some sustained pressure on the Ipswich line captain Sam Tape was driven over by his pack to score an opening try.

In almost identical fashion a few minutes later flanker Darren Spencer went over for another try to put the home team ahead by ten points in about that many minutes.

The Rochford pack were giving the Suffolk side plenty to think about in the scrum and loose driving their opponents back and turning over a number of balls from some loose play by the adventurous Ipswich side.

The visitors always looked dangerous with ball in hand and this was the case when their no.14 sped through for a well taken try which was duly converted.

Rochford responded with some exciting play from both forwards and backs resulting in hooker Tom Corbet running round the opposition for a try which centre Tom Ashton converted.

Just before half time Darren Spencer, who was having a very fine game, scored his second try to put the home side ahead 22 – 7 at the break.

Ipswich came out for the second half determined to get back into the game and only hard tackling and good defence by the Magnolia Road lads kept them out.Pressure told in the end and their winger again outran the Rochford cover to score a try which was converted to reduce their arrears to 22 -14.

Replacement wing Sean Conneely, who had just come on the field , got his first touch of the ball and steamed over for a terrific try and Ashton slotted over the conversion to pull Rochford away again.

There was plenty of good,fast open play from both sides in this game which made for enjoyable watching but it was Rochford who kept their composure better than Ipswich.

They made fewer mistakes when it matter and showed good lines of running with ball in hand.This was apparent in their sixth and last try when powerful full back Dan Allen stormed through from deep to run in an excellent try.

Right at the end of this entertaining match Ipswich caught the Rochford defence napping as they sucked them into a position for the Visitors stand off to float a well directed kick to their grateful winger to go over for his third try to finish the game.

There were some excellent performances from the likes of Tom Corbet,George Chipper , Spencer, Dan Bracknell and Dan Needham but credit must go to the pack who played some of their best rugby this season with the set scrummage looking strong and showed plenty of aggressive in the loose. Young Jake Knowles made a successful debut and will only get better with more outings at this level.

Rochford will need to go up a gear or so next week ,though ,when they travel to Braintree who narrowly beat Romford this weekend to allow Rochford top spot.