ROCHFORD HANG ON TO TOP SPOT

This was going to be a testing game for Rochford and the wet, miserable conditions were an additional problem. But the boys in black adapted themselves much better and triumphed against a good and competitive side.

Conditions dictated how this match should be played and Rochford used their strong, experienced forwards to spearhead this victory. In fact all the 8 tries came from the forwards and stand-off Cameron Greenhall contributed 6 conversions.

The visitors started strongly and applied pressure from the word go and big prop Lewis Brunger drove over after some excellent aggressive play and Greenhall converted.

Soon after lively flanker Stuart Whatling scored another try before Sudbury added their name to the scoreboard with a breakaway try which was duly converted to bring the score to 12 – 7

The set scrum, for most of the half was fairly even but gradually the power of the Rochford eight started to pay dividends as their got the upper hand.

The impressive Sam Fombo, Jamie Douglas and Whatling controlled the lineouts and Steven Jay had plenty of options at scrum half.

Powerful flanker Chris Shields finished the first half scoring with a fine individual try and Greenhall added the extra 2 points to take Rochford’s lead to 19 – 7 at the break.

The second session carried on in the same vein with the Rochford forwards making full use of Greenhall’s excellent boot to pin Sudbury down in their own half. Next up was new signing Jodi Allen, returning from New Zealand, to drive over for the bonus point try and then hooker Adam Ferrier went over for Greenhall to convert.

Sudbury defended very well but pressure told, and second row Douglas finished off some fine play to score and Cameron Greenhall added the extra points. Minutes later Douglas, once again, went over and Greenhall took the score line to 45 – 7.

Lewis Brunger put the icing on the cake with his second try and for Greenhall’s boot to bring the final result to 52 points and considering the wet and slippery ball Rochford played the conditions better and can be pleased with their afternoon’s work.

Not a perfect performance as there were too many basic errors but nothing that can’t be sorted out on the training ground.