SUPER ROCHFORD DISPLAY KEEPS THEM ON TOP

After 2 weeks enforced rest due to the bad weather and the trials and tribulations of the last couple of days and change of venue Rochford responded in style.

In a classy exhibition of skilful and fast flowing rugby the home side ( Rochford) blew away a plucky and adventurous Harlow outfit who had no answer to the speed of Rochford’s free running team.

In a frantic opening quarter it was Harlow that made the running and can be said to have been unlucky not to have scored a least two or three tries in this period as final passes were adjudged to be forward.

During this time it was Rochford who were the more clinical and showed the importance of finishing ability and punishing slack defences with two breakaway tries by wings Sean Conneely and Sam Barnes one of which was converted by Tom Ashton who also kicked a penalty to put them ahead 15 -0 .

Barnes had to retire through injury to be replaced by Nick Brown and gradually the boys in black began to take more control in the line out and settled the scrums.

The loose was keenly fought over and Harlow managed to keep pressing to no avail as Rochford tackled with venum.The writing was on the wall for Harlow when full back Dan Allen broke through to score and then followed by an excellent effort from centre Matt.Stewart which Ashton converted.

With the score line now at 27 -0 Rochford knew they just had to gain the necessary possession and they could breach the Harlow defence with their elusive running. Lively wing Conneely finished off the half with his second try which was once again converted by Ashton.

At the turn round Rochford were 34 – 0 ahead but Harlow were still dangerous with ball in hand and could feel a little aggrieved they did not have any points on the scoreboard.

Most of the second session was a tighter affair not helped when second row Billy Ellis was yellow carded for a technical offence. Rochford did however score during this period when Tom Corbet who had been involved in so much of the first half went over for the first of his three tries which Ashton duly converted .

Prop Jon Berry ,coming back from injury ,replaced the excellent Kenton Avis in the front row and Darren Spencer,also making a return, took over from the promising Jake Knowles to bring fresher legs to the tight .

The game ,from a Rochford point of view,went off the boil but credit must go to Harlow who never gave up and for the majority of the second half more than held their own and had more of the possession to launch a number of attacks.

Rochford’s defence was up to the task but the game went into the last ten minutes with no more score and it appeared that Rochford were going to finish with a good ,but unsatisfactory , win as the game drifted to its conclusion.

Suddenly they woke from their slumber and exploded into life and it was Corbet that ignited the touch paper.From a loose maul he broke free and raced for the line to dive under the posts to make the conversion a formality.

He then finished off a blistering fast move through the backs to score again near the posts for Ashton to add the points.

Not to be out done marvellous no.8 George Chipper who was ,also, having an outstanding match outpaced the opposition to power over the line .

Centre Tom Ashton finished off the scoring with the conversion to take his tally to eight out of ten attempts at goal as the final whistle blew.

There were terrific performances from many players such as Corbet, Chipper,Stewart, Ashton, Needham and all but it was primarily a massive team effort but know there are areas that still need to be looked at ,especially with a tough encounter against Canvey next week away at Canvey.