ANOTHER SHARP LEARNING CURVE

After the high of last week’s win Rochford found it hard going against top of the table outfit Colchester who showed why they are there.

The final score does not reflect a very competitive match in which Rochford held their own for large periods of the game especially in the mid part of the second half but the speed, lines of running and support play of the North Essex team were a little too much for them in the end.

Where Rochford failed was in poor lineout work ,which has been where they have been good in most games but where they gave away a great deal of ball.

They also sometimes allowed Colchester too much space and missed tackles at crucial moments as well as giving away too much ball in turn overs.Their cause also was not helped by losing influential flanker James Needham in the first session through injury.

The only Rochford score in the first half was a Tom Ashton penalty against three Colchester tries,one of which was converted and a penalty kick.

The damp and drizzly conditions did not help either side’s ball control but Colchester had some powerful and intelligent runners who were more then a handful to deal with but Rochford put in some sterling work in defence and when they had the ball applied some pretty good pressure of their own.

Rochford’s fight back started with a terrific Matt. Stewart effort breaking away and scoring a well earned try to take the score to 20 -8 but Colchester came back to extend their lead with further tries in the second session before another fine piece of Rochford play saw prop Scott Chivers storm over for a try which Ashton converted.

The Magnolia Road boys work rate during this period went up a few notches as they took the game to their more illustrious opponents and were unlucky not to get more from the opportunities created.

Late in the game wing Sam Edwards opened his scoring sheet for his new club with a good try after some aggressive Rochford play and once again Ashton converted.

That was as good as it got for the away team as Colchester turned the screw in the last ten minutes to break through for more tries to take their tally to five in the second half and eight all told.

Another gutsy effort, particularly in the second half, by Rochford but they still need to put away chances and be more focussed on the basics at this level.