Match Report by Graham Pratt

On another lovely sunny Saturday afternoon the home team edged out a hard fought victory over their North London opponents. It was not one of their best displays against a very committed and lively side but Rochford showed enough character to get the result and finished the better team.

The large crowd would be forgiven to think that this would not be the case as for the first 20 minutes of this encounter Ignatians were all over a subdued Rochford who could not get their hands on the ball and did not appear to have the wit to do so.

Two deserved penalties by Mark Mansfield for the visitors put them in control early on and although Rochford seemed to have the advantage in the set scrum and looked good in the lineout, Ignatians were full of running and quicker to the loose ball.

Gradually Rochford started to awake from their slumber and put together some decent moves with wing Jon Baker looking particularly dangerous with Matt Stewart and Greg Stubbs also getting into the action.

Late on into the half pressure from the Magnolia Road lads began to pay off when centre Tom Ashton slotted over two well struck penalties to even the scores going in at the break and act as a rallying call for the second half.

Where Ignatians looked a menace in the first half with their quick running and fast ball from the base of the scrum Rochford now upped their game and started to win better and more useful possession and used it to advantage. Sam Tape’s men attacked the Ignation defence on a number of occasions and were rewarded when impressive scrum half Simon Webb finished off a fine move to dart over for a try. Ashton converted to put the home team in front for the first time in the game at 13 – 6.

During this period the old fault of ill discipline crept into Rochford’s game and a number of penalties and ground were given away to crucial times to keep a tiring Ignatians inspiration. Rochford’s cause was not helped when prop Paul Ansell was yellow carded and the North London outfit scored a opportunist try through full back Jon Moore to reduce the deficit to two points and Rochford were hanging on.

The last few minutes was nail biting stuff for players and the large crowd but Tom Ashton again came to the rescue with a match winning penalty to the relief of the players and supporters and the disappointment of the deflated North Londoners.

Team: Ansell(Coombe), McMahon, Berry, Tape, Stephenson, Murphy, Stemp, Chipper (Norris) S.Webb, D.Needham, Baker, Spencer, Ashton, Stewart, Stubbs, C.Webb.

As a point of Interest, Here's Enfields Match Report !

Ignatians fail to capitalise against Rochford
Report by Dave Watts

ENFIELD IGNATIANS missed a golden opportunity to knock the joint table toppers, Rochford Hundred, off their perch in London 3 North-East, writes Jonathan Landi.
Coach Ali Cook felt that this was one away game that got away. He said: "We were very much the dominant side for most of the first-half, but we let Rochford off the hook by failing to make the most of three very good opportunities."
For the first 25 minutes the visitors ruled the roost, and early pressure told as two successful Mark Mansfield penalties gifted them an early 6-0, but crucially they failed to add their lead and the fact that they are the division's second lowest scorers (66) perhaps tells its own story.
Not that it was for want of trying. For Rochford scarcely knew what had had hit and in one slick three-quarter move, which included a daring Tom Williamson kick-and-chase, they sliced Rochford clean open only to fail at the death following a knock-on in the in-goal area.
Ignatians also had cruel luck with injuries and Dan Linehan (ankle) and influential prop Shaun Quinn (knee) both failed to go the distance.
However, a groggy Rochford somehow hauled themselves off the deck, and the deadly boot of outside centre, Craig Webb, began to find its range, and after the visitors were penalised for holding-on and off-side, he threw his side a lifeline by making it all 6-6 at the break.
Both sides had a player sin-binned after the break, including Ignatians' Wes Warren for a high tackle, but Rochford were smarter into their stride, and within four minutes they made the most of a five-metre scrum as James Forbes darted over.
However, Ignatians got back into it, and after going through several phases from a catch and drive, fullback Jon Moore finally burst through to take the game within two points.
The try was unconverted, but Rochford had the last laugh after Ignatians fell offside, and Webb's penalty put the game to bed much to the chagrin of the away side.