ROCHFORD GIVEN A LESSON IN FINISHING POWER

Rochford were taken to the cleaners by classy Thurrock who scored nine tries and if their kicking was better the score would have been even more.

The visitors never gave up the fight and gave as good as they got on a number of occasions but when it mattered Thurrock had the speed, ball skills and single mindedness that showed why they are at the top of the table.

For the first quarter of the game the two sides fought it out to gain the advantage and Rochford applied good pressure which could have lead to tries but crucial breakdowns or good defence stopped them from going ahead.

It was ominous that when the home team did get their hands on the ball they made big breaks but were just kept at bay by strong Rochford defence.

However, pressure told and Thurrock ran in for their first try, to be followed quickly by three others before half time. None were converted which meant that the score at the break was a just manageable 0 -20 if Rochford could get some momentum going with the strong wind in their favour.

It was not to be as Thurrock quickly scored another two converted tries to put the game out of sight for a tiring Rochford outfit.

The boys in black made a brief comeback to put some good rugby together which resulted in skipper Matt Stewart running in for a try which Adam Ashton duly converted.

That was as good as it got for them as a now free flowing Thurrock ran in three more tries, two of which were converted, and a weary Rochford were only too pleased to hear the final whistle.

There were some good individual performances from a few players, notably Jack Pearce who had an impressive game in lineout and loose, George Chipper and Greg Whight who worked hard all afternoon.

Dan Needham, Matt Stewart and others led by example but the Thurrock defence was always up to the task and counterattacked with interest.

A game to be put behind them and for the team to concentrate on the other important relegation battles to come especially next week at Hammersmith and Fulham.