On a bright but blowy afternoon the home outfit served up another treat for their supporters with a seven try display of fast, flowing rugby against a good Woodford team.

The opposition were well drilled and always looked to take on Rochford whenever they had the ball but, once again, Hundred showed more skill, pace and support play when it was needed and also more power up front and in the lineout.

Luke Court-Rhind and Sam Fombo are a class act and dominated the lineouts ably supported by Stuart Whatling and Josh Hurley. They also contributed greatly in the loose where Craig Strachan and Tom Corbet, James Kellard and others created gaps from which the team launched many an attack.

The first score was not long coming when speedy wing Mitch Bennett finished off an excellent back move to ground in the corner.

Next up was the other winger Sam Edwards who sped over for a try which Tom Ashton converted. During this period a couple of more tries could have been scored but passing errors and good defence kept the score the same until fiery hooker Corbet went over for another try.

A Rochford game is never complete without Mark Billings being involved and so it was that he finished off another Pacey attack by the boys in black and with Ashton’s conversion Rochford were ahead 24 – 0 and try bonus point in the bag.

A late first half effort from Woodford after some sustained pressure on the Rochford line was rewarded by a converted try and the scoreboard showed 24 – 7 at the break.

The second half was a grittier affair as Woodford defended with passion but at a cost as they conceded many penalties which Rochford exploited.

Eventually Edwards broke through to claim his second try and Ashton added the extra two points.

Woodford never gave up the fight, but substitute David Rufai powered over from a set scrum on his opponent’s line to score a good try before full back Billings ran free to score under the posts. Centre Tom Ashton converted both tries to complete a satisfying afternoon’s work for the Magnolia Road lads.

By no means a perfect team performance by the boys but considering the windy conditions and a slippery ball plus determined opposition it was not bad either.