BACK ON TRACK AGAIN

It was never going to be an easy challenge at Canvey and the very wet conditions before and during the game did not help.

Rochford, however, were in far more positive mood than the previous week and applied themselves well to the task.

Canvey knew that they needed to bottle up the Rochford backs to win this local derby and tried all they could to do so but to no avail in the end.

The visitors started at a pace but the Canvey eight fought well to contain the Rochford pack although the visitors set scrum was much more secure this Saturday and the line out performed with their usual efficiency.

When Rochford won good ball their backs, with Dan Needham outstanding, looked sharp and created a number of chances.

Eventual pressure paid off when Tom Ashton put his side ahead with a penalty kick.Shortly after scrum half Dan Bracknell put them further in front with an excellent unconverted try.

The battle up front was hard fought with the home team driving through the middle of the field with some good play from their forwards but Rochford’s defence was in place and were able to break down attacks and turn over ball.

Next up to score was hooker Tom Corbet who broke free in the middle of the park and raced in for a try which Ashton converted to put Rochford 15 -0 in the lead.

Conditions gradually deteriorated and the ball became difficult to handle resulting in a number of mistakes by both sides and slowed the game down which benefited the home side better.

An injection of Rochford speed and good handling resulted in stand off Dan Needham gliding through a gap and racing away to touch down under the posts for Ashton to slot the conversion over and at the turn round the boys in black were 22- 0 to the good.

Rochford were in the driving seat ,but as is often the case, things don’t always go to plan because the home side found an extra gear as Rochford relaxed a little and the pitch cut up more.

Forward pressure from Canvey was rewarded when their number eight powered over to score and reduce the margin. The second half was mostly a dour affair as both sets of forwards became indistiquishable from each other leading to a great deal of loose and turned over ball as well as confusion on occasions.

Rochford needed the extra try for bonus points and that eventually came from the excellent flanker James Needham when he found room and the legs to drive over for his team’s fourth try after some well worked approach play. James has a long striding style which is very deceptive to defences and he showed this off to great advantage during this match.

Late in the game some good Canvey attacking play resulted in them scoring a try in the corner and was well converted by a tremendous kick from the touchline.

Rochford deserved the victory as they had that extra dimension to their game, even in conditions that did not suit their style, but good sides adapt to that.

Canvey can take some consultation from the fact that they won the second half 12 -5 and had the better of the play in that period but it was one more difficult hurdle overcome for the Magnolia Road outfit.

Rochford have other hard contests ahead but as all their remaining fixtures are now at home it will give them that little extra boost but they must keep up the momentum.