A GOOD AFTERNOON’S WORK

In spite of an enforced delay to the kick off due to the late arrival of the referee due to transport problems both teams soon showed that they wanted to play rugby.

Rochford knew that this was an important confrontation and applied themselves to the task with an opening few minutes of controlled and fast running which resulted in prop Jon. Berry crashing over for a try and converted by Tom Ashton.

If they thought that it was going to be one way traffic Old Streets. Soon dispelled that belief when they through themselves at their opponents and after some good approach work broke through the Rochford defence for their prop to score.

The try was converted to level the score but Rochford soon started to show some classy ball play with forwards and backs combining at speed and hooker Tom Corbet ,again showing his all round skills, finished off to dive over for a well taken try and blood substitute Sam Barnes,on for Ashton , slotted the
ball over to take them 14 -7 ahead.

An Ashton penalty edged Rochford further ahead and the boys in black always looked very dangerous with ball in hand and created wide gaps in the home team’s stretched defence.

Old Streetonians did manage one more score via a converted penalty try but stand off Dan Needham, who was running such good angles all afternoon scored a well deserved try which Ashton converted to take them into the break 24 – 14 up.

Line out and set scrums were providing consistent ball for the Rochford’s free running backs but Old Streetonians showed that they.also could run the ball wide as well as driving driving Rochford back through their determined forwards.

Rochford needed to increase their tempo and were desperate to get that fourth try and bonus points but did fall foul of the referee and had two players yellow carded during the second session.

Ironically It was during the first of theses cards that the visitors went further ahead when wing Sean Conneely outwitted the opposition to speed over and Ashton converted to widen the gap beyond the gritty.but flagging Old Streets side.

With the bonus points secured Rochford became more relaxed but there
were occasions when they took their eye off the game and nearly let the home team back in but generally they had too many big guns for the East London outfit.

Impressive young full back Rob Prior scored his first try for the first team, which will do his confidence no harm but he appears to have plenty anyway after his performances so far.

To finish off an overall satisfactory afternoon’s rugbyj Sam Barnes went over for a late try but it has to be said that a number of excellent chances to score did go begging in the second half ,either through hurried passes or some arguable refereeing decisions.

Excellent individual performances particularly from Darren Spencer who was simply outstanding in the loose , Dan Needham ,James Needham,Tom Corbet,Tom Ashton, George Chipper and Dan Bracknell and some terrific skilful rugby by the team as a whole.

What they have to work on ,and coaches Mark Sexton and Andy Lipscombe will emphasise this coming week,is more consistency in their play which certainly will be needed next week at Romford.