The boys in black have been promising to put in this type of performance for a few weeks now but not all aspects of their play were ever present at the same time.

That changed this afternoon as set scrum, lineout loose and in the main their defence all came together as they outplayed a lively and expansive running Hammersmith & Fulham team who won many friends through their endeavour and adventurous play.

In the end it was not enough against a Rochford outfit in full flight that played their best all round rugby of the season so far to score seven tries and a vital bonus point.

This entertaining and competitive match started with a bang as straight from the kick off the irrepressible hooker Tom Corbet stole the ball and drove to within inches of the line. From the resulting ruck quick ball to Tom Ashton allowed him to run in under the posts and convert his effort.

Ashton soon after increased Rochford’s lead with a penalty kick and the home side looked good for it as they moved ball all over the field to stretch Hammersmith who were finding it difficult to keep them at bay.

Slowly the visitors began to regain a little control and were rewarded with a penalty kick to reduce the arrears.The game spread wide and with both teams trying to get the upper hand but it was left to captain Ashton to make the breakthrough with his second try and for him to add the two points to put his team ahead 17-3 at half time.

It only got better for the home side as they continued the intensity of their play through good set piece work where the return of second row Ryan Stephenson seemed to anchor the scrum in conjunction with his partner Richard Mott who gave the platform for the back row of Baker, Spencer and Chipper to cause problems for the Hammers defence all afternoon.

A number of players are beginning to find their form and none more so than young full back Robert Prior who continues to build on his previous season’s impressive debut.

The front row of Chivers, Corbet and Coombe were rock solid and the lineout was back on track after an off day the previous week. Rochford thrived on turn over ball and in centre Matt Stewart they had a player inspired. His first try was an excellent piece of individual flair as he swerved, glided and then powered his way through virtually the whole opposition to score.

Not to be outdone his fellow centre Tom Ashton ran through for his third try and to secure the bonus point as well as converting the effort.

The West London side were always dangerous with ball in hand and their wing,who had an outstanding game scored the first of his three tries to reduce the deficit and then another penalty kick by their full back brought the score line to 29 -11.

Rochford needed to kill the game off and this they did with, first, a typically opportunist try for Tom Corbet and then another tremendous run by Stewart to scorch over. Ashton converted both efforts to take the game out of reach of the opposition at 43 -11.Rochford’s last try came courtesy of some fine ball juggling out on the wing which resulted in Ryan Stephenson jaunting over for the home team’s seventh try of the game.

To their great credit Hammersmith & Fulham kept up the pace and two late tries by the winger to give him his hat-trick and both converted put a more respectable slant on the final score but, in truth, Rochford were just a little too good for them on the day.

The boys will have to keep up this form as they take on Thurrock at home next week but in this mood anything can happen, although they still need to tighten up on their defence a little and look not to give away easy points as they are a precious commodity in this league and points difference can be very important when the season draws to an end.