JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH

What a difference a week makes. After a first class performance against second in the table Letchworth last week Rochford failed to turn up for this game.

In a dire first quarter Chingford took apart a hesitant and out of salts Rochford to go up18 points through 2 penalties, 2 tries and 1 conversion before the visitors responded with any positive rugby.

Gradually Rochford decided to do something and no.8 James Needham broke through to score a try which Kit Branch converted.

Chingford then came back to score another converted try before a period of good play by Rochford was rewarded with 2 penalty kicks going over from Branch to take the teams to 13 – 25 at the break.

From the restart Chingford scored again with a try but more positive play by Rochford saw second row Richard Mott drive over for a try.

That was as good as it got for the Magnolia Road team even when Chingford were reduced to 13 men after yellow card offences.

At 18 -30 there was still a good chance of getting something from this fractious and frustrating match but the team just did not seem to have their hearts in it and even a losing bonus point seemed a long way off.

In the end a spirited Chingford outfit, who were certainly keyed up for the encounter, put the result beyond doubt with another converted try and no one could argue they deserved the points.

After the game head coach Mark Sexton made his thoughts of the Rochford effort plain in no uncertain terms and one can only hope the boys will take his and Andy Lipscombe’s comments very seriously.

Only four games left and it is now crunch time so come on lads and let’s make it happen.