ANOTHER CONVINCING DISPLAY KEEPS ROCHFORD ON TOP

The Magnolia Road boys put in another display of classy, fast ball play resulting in a nine try tally and were good value for it.

It was going to be a stern test against a good side away from home, but Rochford were just too good a team on the day and Ipswich had no answer to the style and pace that is Rochford’s game.

The visitors were powerful in the set scrum where prop Craig Strachan was outstanding and dominated the lineout with Luke Court-Rhind and Sam Fombo winning plenty of ball.

The first half started at a pace with quick tries from Adam Ferrier and Court-Rhind both converted by Tom Ashton.

It was all attack from the Essex Boys who used the power of their scrum, the lineout and loose to provide classy scrum half Ricki Gould with a steady stream of ball.

He put it to good use supplying young stand-off Matthew Needham who, once again, produced an impressive performance of style, guile and pace to bewilder the opposition.

With the likes of Ashton and captain Matt Stewart outside him there was always things happening and fast ball allowed both wingers Mitchell Bennett and Tom Pickering to get involved with some good runs.

A try from Stuart Whatling and a brace from the ever-elusive Mark Billings completed the first session’s scoring with Ashton adding an extra two points.

A terrific first half by Rochford as they turned around 31-0 up and their supporters looked forward of more to come.

The home side did increase the tempo of their game as good sides do and had more possession in the second half but another aspect of Rochford’s play is their defence work which was evident all afternoon where the likes of Tom Corbet,
Needham, Stewart, Kellard, Ferrier and others put in big hits but none more so than Strachan who was immense.

As much as Ipswich ran at their opponents they were overwhelmed in the tackle and Rochford counterattacked.

To their credit Ipswich kept at it and were rewarded with a well taken try but was small compensation for all the running around they had to do all afternoon.

Rochford bided their time and soaked up the pressure and the boot of Ashton together with the power of their forwards and the pace in the backs put them back in charge.

Tries from Pickering, David Rufai, Stewart and Strachan all converted by Ashton rounded off a job well done and another very good team performance with the extra points in the bags.