Rochford’s end of season surge continued with their third 5 point win on the trot and only leaves one more conclusive win next week at Brentwood to stay up.

The home side were good value for their win and both sides entertained the large crowd with some exciting rugby.In fact if Rochford had put away most of the chances they had the scoreline would have been a great deal more.

Due credit to a lively Ruislip who made a second half challenge to get back into the game which resulted in some tense moments later in the match.

It was apparent from the start that the boys in black meant business as they went ahead early on with a well taken try by wing Nick Brown which Kit Branch duly converted.

Ruislip responded with a penalty kick but it was Rochford that set the pace and kept possession to launch a number of attacks.

Good Ruislip defence and some poor finishing kept the score the same until Branch put over another penalty after 30 minutes to increase his side’s lead.

Although the Ruislip forwards were bigger Rochford competed well in the set scrums and won good lineout ball, often taking opposition ball to put pressure on the visitors.

Branch further increased Rochford’s lead with a try which he converted but Ruislip took advantage of some slack defence to score a converted try just before half time.

The home team had the final say of the half with another well struck Branch penalty to turn round at the break 20 -10 up.

From a Rochford point of view it was all nail biting stuff as they pushed to score the two other tries needed and ensure victory.

Kit Branch kicked a further penalty but the West London outfit are made of quite stern stuff and came back with another converted try to reduce the arrears to 23 – 17.

Rochford needed to increase the tempo of their game which they did and it resulted in a second try by Brown.

Rochford could now see the light at the end of the tunnel and when the excellent Greg.Stubbs, who had been full of running all afternoon speed away to score by the posts it seemed all over. Branch converted and at 35 – 17 Rochford were coasting to a well-deserved win.

In this league all teams are good and Ruislip are no exception as they forced themselves back with some good attacking play which was rewarded by a third converted try.

The game went into the final minutes but as much as they tried Rochford could not increase their lead and when Ruislip’s no.8 drove over the line to score their fourth try to secure a bonus point there were some very testing moments before the referee blew the final whistle and allowed the home side a satisfied feeling of a job well done as well as relief.

Excellent performances again from James Needham, Darren Spencer, Tom Corbet and Andy Baker and the rest of the hard working forwards.

In the backs Dan Needham, Nick Brown, Robert Prior and Greg Stubbs showed their class and Kit Branch kept knocking up the points as good kickers do.

I apologise if I have not mentioned everybody but they all know that it has been a massive effort by the whole team and they have one more big job to do next week.