BENNETT AND FERRIER LEAD CHARGE IN TEN TRY ROMP

By the standards that this team set themselves this was not one of their best, but it was certainly sufficient to see off Old Cooperians on the day.

Another bonus point victory with ten tries to nil is impressive enough with outstanding winger Mitchell Bennett scoring four of them and hooker Adam Ferrier, returning from injury, bagging another three was icing on the cake.

It was evident from very early on that the home side did not have the power or expertise to combat a dominant Rochford whose set scrum was in another class as they drove the Cooperians pack at every scrummage and won many balls against the head.

Also, Rochford’s lineout was in command the whole game where, once again, Luke Court-Rhind was supreme and was ably assisted by Stuart Whatling and Joseph Hurley.

From the off the visitors applied enormous pressure and were soon rewarded with Bennett racing over for a try which Matt Stewart converted.

Next up was Stuart Whatling who scored a good try and then Ferrier grounded after a powerful Rochford forward drive.

The pace of the game was fast with Rochford dictating events creating plenty of gaps where, perhaps, more tries could have been scored. Mitch Bennett did take advantage though and stormed through for his second effort which Stewart duly converted.

Not to be out done Ferrier scored his second which was almost a duplicate of his first try as he almost casually ground the ball after a forward surge on the Coops Line.

One of the forwards that was having a big influence in tight and loose was prop Craig Strachan and it was only fitting that he should be next up to score and to finish the first half on a high and to put his team up 34-0 at the break.

The second half was a more disjointed affair with a number of stoppages for injuries and infringements as Coopers responded well and kept more possession and attack to frustrate Rochford.

This, however, did not stop Ferrier scoring his hat trick with a Chris Ashton type try as he dived over to ground one handed and to make a welcome return to the side.

As I have said before a game is not complete without a Mark Billing try and by his standards he had a quiet afternoon at full back, but he took his chance when it came and sped through to score a fine try and captain Stewart added the extra two points.

The middle quarter of this one-sided match was average to watch and although Old Coops tried very hard to score Rochford’s defence was up to the task and it needed a little injection of pace to finish in style.

There is no better player for that than wing Bennett who finished off a couple of fast Rochford attacks with two more tries one of which Stewart converted to close proceedings.

A workmanlike display from the side with a number of fine efforts from the likes of Strachen, Ferrier, Court-Rhind, Matt Needham, Whatling, Rufai and others and especially pleasing for Bennett who is now joint top try scorer with Billings on 13 tries apiece.

It was also very satisfactory to have another match without conceding any points.

Next week a much sterner test as the team travel over to North West London to play Hampstead in the next round of the RFU national cup competition and will need to be at their best.