ROCHFORD MAKE IT FIVE WINS ON THE TROT

Rochford survived another difficult away game and came away worthy winners and collected a try bonus point as well.

It was, for the most part, a scrappy and sometimes bad tempered encounter against old rivals Romford who disrupted well forcing Rochford into making errors.

Having said that, in the end, Rochford’s superior fitness,
power and organisation were too much for the home outfit as they ran in five tries to extend their winning run to five matches keeping them in 4th place in the league table.

Rochford opened the scoring with a first try for flanker Max Bacon who supported a good move to touch down.

Romford responded with a try by their no.8 which was converted to take them into the lead.

The score line stayed the same until late in the first half when stand-off Matt Stewart put up a well directed high ball and impressive wing Louie Marshall picked up beautifully and sped over for another try for Rochford to regain the lead at the break at 10 -7.

The first session was littered with some scrappy play and a number of sloppy errors from both sides but which disadvantaged Rochford more as their mistakes tended to happen when they had put themselves into some good scoring positions.

The visitors started the second half with more purpose and a number of attacking sorties into the Romford half were eventually rewarded when powerful centre Gavin Tusini forced himself over the line taking a couple of opposition players with him.

Unfortunately Tusini sustained a leg injury shortly after and had to retire from the game but Rochford regrouped well and continued to press hard.

As the half progressed Rochford became stronger with their set scrum causing Romford many problems and the forwards where prop, Liam Bass was having an excellent match won plenty of loose ball.

Pressure told and Matt Stewart showing some good skills ran through the defence to score under the posts and to convert the try himself to take the lead to 22-7.

Romford struck back straight away with a breakaway converted try to reduce the deficit to 22-14 which gave Rochford some anxious moments.

The boys in black had the final say though when after some more impressive forward play and a number of phases in the Romford twenty metre area the ball was sped out to wing Matt White, who took full advantage of some space out wide, and ran through for a well taken try to close off the game.