On a hot, sunny afternoon the boys in black started the season in this higher division at a tremendous pace and looked a class apart as hooker Tom Corbet finished off a skilful piece of fast interchanging rugby to score under the posts. New skipper Tom Ashton duly converted and Rochford were ahead 7 points within just a few minutes of the kick off.

The large crowd had hardly settled down again before the home side were putting together some terrific rugby with forwards and backs supporting each other and the ball moving quicker than the eye could follow on occasions.

Brentwood were stretched to keep the Rochford at bay and within twenty minutes they went further in front with a Matty Stewart try after great approach work and, again Ashton converted to take them to 14-0.

The visitors responded with a penalty and shortly after Brentwood’s no.8 crashed over to score and reduce the arrears to 14-8.The visitors began to apply pressure up front in the set scrum which Rochford managed to hold during the first half and the lineouts were evenly contested with,perhaps, the home team winning better ball for impressive scrum half Dan Bracknell to use to advantage.

In the backs Ashton and Stewart combined well in the centre and Sam Edwards looked strong on the wing. Young Adam Ashton, a late call up at full back, also showed what a good player he is going to become.

Rochfords forwards fought hard against the bigger Brentwood eight and continued to supply good ball to the backs.Firey flanker Andy Baker increased his side’s lead to 19 -8 with a well taken try to finish the half and everything looked rosy from a Rochford point of view.

Funny how things can changed so quickly as it was a rejuvenated Brentwood that came out in the second session after a good half time team talk and scored almost immediately when their pack decided to drive Rochford back over their line and were awarded a push over try by their no.8. This was converted and suddenly Brentwood were back in the game at 19 -15 .This inspired them to increase the tempo and they were rewarded once more when the full back burst through to score a good try which was duly converted and to put them in the lead for the first time.

Rochford needed to respond to this threat but the momentum was with the visitors now and the boys in black fell foul of various infringements by the competent lady referee Nicola Reynolds .They also seemed to lose the intensity that was so characteristic in the first half.

Brentwood used their experience of playing at this level by driving the home side back with long kicks and controlling the ball supply through the pack so that the talented Rochford players could not sustain any forward momentum of their own.

Tom Ashton took the chance to draw level with a well taken penalty kick but Brentwood kept the pressure on up front and forced Rochford to concede territory. Once near the Rochford line they just knuckled down and used the set scrum as a formidable weapon to score another push over try for the no.8 to ground for his third try and a bonus point.

Their stand off kicked his third conversion and to rub salt into Rochford's wound he then kicked a long distance drop goal to put the game out of reach of Rochford although a late rally and some frantic play could have produced a consolation try it just was not to be.

Brentwood deserved their victory because they adopted the right tactics in the second half to control the ball and not allow the very dangerous Rochford ball players to get a sniff .

Rochford were, probably, the better ball playing side and have a number of skilful forwards and backs but Brentwood showed that in this league they will also need to be more street wise and learn the ability to changed tactics and front up against bigger and sometimes stronger opposition.

Having said that this is an outfit that is capable of producing some of the finest rugby this club has seen in years and they could go from strength to strength.It is in their hands to do so.