Where do I start? This was a massive performance and a well-deserved victory by Rochford. It was hard fought with both sides moving the ball around at pace and with plenty of errors from both sides.

This helped make it an exciting game to watch as there were many breakdowns and turn overs but the home side had the all important edge up front where the Rochford forwards were superb.

Both teams appeared to be evenly matched and early Rochford pressure was absorbed by good Colchester defensive work and the visitors took the lead with a Damien Brambley penalty kick.

It was evident during the first half that Rochford had the edge in the set piece with some excellent driving by the forwards and the lineout were even.

Colchester showed that with ball in hand they were a handful to keep at bay but superb Rochford tackling and general play made up for the extra pace of the Colchester backs.

There was no more scoring until right on half time when poor Rochford clearance from their own twenty metres saw Colchester breakthrough and prop Joe McMillan go over for a try which they converted to turn round 10-0 in the lead.

In addition to that setback a Rochford player was yellow carded so the team had to start the second half with fourteen men.

This Rochford side is made of stern stuff nowadays and they came out all guns blazing and took the game to their more illustrious opponents.

Their efforts were rewarded when after some good pressure in the Colchester twenty-metre area prop Michael Mark drove over to score. . Kit Branch provided the conversion and Rochford were back in the match at 7-10.

Colchester came back with a Brambley penalty and shortly after Branch kicked one of his own to take the score to 10 -13.Another Colchester penalty widened the gap again but Rochford were now playing some very good quality rugby and kept the North Essex side on their toes.

The forwards were driving the Colchester eight back in the tight and Jack Pearce, Greg Whight and James Needham were picking up good lineout ball.

Needham was having his best game for a while tidying up and collecting loose ball and making decisive runs into the Colchester ranks.

With time running out and for the second week on the trot a tension filled finale building the home side began to look the fitter and more determined side.

The all-important breakthrough came when lively hooker Tom Cotbet made one of his renowned runs for the line and dived over for a try.

Branch made no mistake with the conversion and Rochford were 17-16 ahead with approx just over five minutes to go.

The tension became unbearable for the large crowd as both sides fought for supremacy.

Rochford knuckled down better and slowed the game up with a number of controlled phases of tight forward drives to frustrate their more vaunted opposition.

At last the final whistle went and Rochford came off heads held high and large smiles on their faces knowing that it was a job very well done against the second in the table Colchester.

Some excellent individual performances from the likes of Branch, both Needhams, Pearce, Whight, Corbet, Chipper and others but a great team effort that brought high praise from coaches Mark Sexton and Andy Lipscombe as well as myself.

It showed, once again, that this Rochford outfit is much better than their lowly league position signifies.

Keep up this intensity boys and we can look forward to more successes in the weeks to come and safety from the drop.