ONLY ONE GAME AWAY FROM LEAGUE TITLE

Rochford are now only one match away from securing the league title but they made hard work of this important win.

The recent cancelled games and lack of proper training due to bad weather showed as they looked rusty in this error strewn game, but they still managed a bonus point victory.

Epping made Rochford work hard for their success with some lively and stout defence as they fought all the way to the final whistle.

Having said all that the visitors showed their class on many occasions and were unlucky not to score more than their 7 tries.

The first try came very shortly after the start when winger Mitchell Bennett sped through to score and for Steven Jay to add the extra 2 points.

A number of Rochford attacks on the Epping line came to nothing before the home side forced Rochford back to defend their line themselves.

A slack pass from defence was intercepted and Upper Clapton ran over to score a converted try to level the score.

The boys in black responded with some good attacking play, which resulted with further tries from Mark Billings, Craig Strachan and Joe Hurley, one of which was converted by Jay.

Epping kicked a penalty just before half time and Rochford turned around 24 – 10 ahead.

The second half was much better for the visitors as they began to dictate play as their set Scrum became stronger, and they settled down. Three more tries from Adam Ferrier, another from Bennett and one from Sam Fombo all of which were converted by Steven Jay without reply brought proceeding to a conclusion and one step nearer the league title.

It had been a stuttering performance from the league leaders with some good forceful loose play from the likes of Strachan, getting back to fitness again after injury, Adam Ferrier, Stuart Whatling, Tom Corbet and David Rufai.

Steven Jay played well with boot and darting runs and Billings was lively as always although closely marked by the opposition who were only too well aware of the threat he offered. Bennett and Edwards on the wings had some good runs and Johnson and Cleare were forceful in the centre. Young Matt Needham at standoff was looking sprightly and defended well.

A big plus was the lineout work of Luke Court-Rhind and Sam Fombo who dominated this area of the match and provided plenty of excellent ball to play with.

On the down side there were also a number of basic errors made and some slow and lateral ball play which can be put down to not playing and training properly over past week or so, but these things can be sorted out especially with crucial games against Norwich and Sudbury coming up after Easter.

We are still unsure of what is happening over Easter yet but if games can be arranged we will inform everybody in due course.