Match Report by Graham Pratt

From Graham
A good win yesterday against Brentwood (25 – 13) and well deserved victory to keep the boys on top of the division. Tries by Matt Norris, Jon Baker and Greg Stubbs with two conversions and two penalties from Tom Ashton were the Rochford scores. Two tries and a penalty from Brentwood plus a couple of yellow cards which did not help their cause.
Next week will be a tough one against London NW3 leaders Harpendon at Magnolia Road in the 4th round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. (Kick off will probably be 2.00 pm) but the way Rochford are getting the results should make for a good game.
Regards Graham

Brentwood RFC Website Match report
Second place Brentwood travelled to first place Rochford on Saturday. Rochford had not been a happy hunting ground for the visitors who were keen to extend their winning run in the league. Cold and sunny weather made for excellent playing conditions.
The early exchanges were fierce with both sides committed to attacking rugby and physical defence. Initially Rochford held the territorial advantage but gradually the visitors regained parity. Both sides continued to play fast, aggressive rugby to enjoyment of the large crowd. Both Hilson and Lewis picked up leg injuries but played on.
After 32 minutes Brentwood forced their way into the home 22 and flanker Bowyer charged down an attempted clearance kick and followed up to touch down for the unconverted try. 5-0 to Brentwood.
Rochford tore back into the attack and stretched the Brentwood defence. Beith was penalised and sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. Rochford kicked the penalty to the corner and drove the resultant line out ball over the line for a try which was converted to make the halftime score 7-5 to the home team.
During the interval Hilson had to leave the field, with the limping Lewis moving to full back and Turner coming on at fly half. These disruptions and injuries increased the problems the visitors had in holding Rochford who now had their tails up and were forcing the pace.
Brentwood made a disastrous start to the second half. Within a minute Rochford kicked through and the ball was not gathered by the visitor’s defence resulting in an unconverted try – 12-5 to Rochford. Two minutes later Rochford were awarded a penalty for offside and the successful kick increased their lead to 15-5.
After 15 minutes Sherwood replaced Partridge at prop. Immediately afterwards Brentwood second row Jones became the second member of the visiting team to be sin binned – falling foul of the referee who severely punished Brentwood’s indiscretions. Brentwood were not able to repeat the continuity they had shown in the first half but after 20 minutes of the half their pressure forced Rochford to concede a penalty which was converted by Turner to reduce the deficit to 18-8.
With 10 minutes remaining Rochford broke out of defence and good handling and lines of running produced a try under the posts which was duly converted – 25-8. As the final whistle approached Lewis gathered a long kick out of defence by Rochford and started a move which, through good handling, resulted in Abbott scoring an unconverted try in the corner to make the final score 25-13 to Rochford.
Brentwood will be disappointed with how their play fell away in the second half but the combination of injuries contributed to this in no small part.
Team: R. Hollingworth, P. Geary, B. Partridge, R. Jones, T. King, J .Metcalfe, S. Bowyer, J. Beith, A. Bright, F. Lewis, A. Lloyd, B. Abbott, G. Stannard, L. Osonsami and J. Hilson.