ROCHFORD EDGE IT IN DOUR LOCAL DERBY

In this poor, stop, start, encounter Rochford just managed to get the better of their long standing local rivals to gain a valuable away win.

It was tense right up to the last minute as the boys in black trailed Basildon for the whole match until the final minutes when a Simon Ashton penalty sealed the victory.

Coach Michael Guess was full of praise for his team who, for the most part played below their usual standards, but who stuck with it to triumph at the last gasp and showed that strength of character once again.

Rochford started well showing pace and determination to put pressure on their opponents but a breakdown allowed the loose ball to be kicked and chased back up the field and the Basildon player beat the defence for the touchdown.

Rochford soon responded by applying more pressure and a penalty decision to them gave Ashton a chance to kick for goal which he duly put through the uprights to reduce the deficit to 3 -5 .

It stayed this way for the rest of the long half with many stoppages for injuries and refereeing lectures to both teams for various transgressions.

A couple of yellow cards for both sides did not add much to the game either.

It all led to a poor half and the spectators hoped for something better in the second.

Unfortunately, for the most part, it was not to be and when Basildon broke through to score a converted try it appeared to Rochford that it might not be their day.

Most of the play tended to be through the forwards with Basildon seemingly showing more aggression and winning more territory than Rochford whose lineout and scrum had to work hard all afternoon to counteract the home side’s disrupting techniques.

Gradually Rochford started to win more ball and upped their game and from a great catch and drive near the Basildon line their forwards drove over for Scott Horsburgh to get the touch down.

With time running out and 8 -12 adrift the visitors needed to do that little something extra which ,to their credit, they did and began to believe in themselves again.

They fought back hard with both forwards and backs playing their part and pressure told.

A penalty was awarded to them and Ashton calmly slotted it over to take the score to 11 -12 with only very few precious minutes left.

As the seconds ticked by Rochford forced the pace and the referee blew for another penalty for a Basildon infringement.

It was not an easy kick ,well outside the Basildon twenty metre line, but Simon Ashton, who has found a new lease of life this season, did the honours much to the relief of his team mates and the Rochford supporters .

A final few very tense minutes as Basildon threw everything at Rochford but the lads kept their discipline and were very happy to hear the final whistle blow.