ROCHFORD KEEP UP THE PRESSURE

Rochford continued their challenge for the league title with another 10 try result against a good Sudbury outfit who presented problems for the home side, especially in the second half.

Admittedly the game was won by then, but Sudbury came back well and pushed Rochford all the way to deny them a bigger score than could have been expected considering a 45 – 5 half time lead.

Making up for the error strewn and slow start last week Rochford started at a very brisk pace and were soon on the scoreboard with an early Mark Billings try converted by Cameron Greenhall. Sudbury responded by running over after an interception try but Rochford struck back straight away with a typical Sam Fombo effort and then another Billings try, and Chris Dudman added the extra 2 points in the absence of yellow carded Greenhall.

Centre Iain Meads went over for the try bonus point and Greenhall converted to take the score line to 26-5. The home team were dominating set scrums ,lineout and loose which kept up a steady supply of good ball for scrum half Ricki Gould to spread through his pacey back division.

Further tries from Jamie Douglas, Meads and Billings to bring up his hattrick and two conversions from Greenhall ended the first half scoring and Rochford were good value for it, playing some marvellous rugby in the progress.

The large crowd settled down for an avalanche of tries to come but the second half became a very keenly contested affair.

The Suffolk side upped their game and attacked Rochford from the start and the boys in black had to dig deep to keep them at bay.

Substitutions were made and straight away rewards came when the strong and experienced prop Michael Guess scored a fine individual try which Greenhall converted.

Not to be out done second row Fombo crashed over to add to the score line at 57 - 5 but Sudbury kept pushing hard and their efforts were rewarded when they came up quickly to cover a Rochford attack and intercepted a pass to score.

More pressure from them saw their winger run away to the try line only to be thwarted by prop Craig Strachan racing back to tackle him on the line and the ball bounced free.

However, the referee adjudged Strachan had tackled illegally, yellow carded him, and awarded Sudbury a penalty try to take their tally to 17 points.

A late James Kellard try and the conversion by Dudman finished the afternoon’s scoring and both sides could say that they came away reasonably satisfied with their efforts.

Rochford got the result they wanted, and Sudbury were able to come away saving face with a re vitalised second half performance.

A week’s rest next Saturday and then a trip over to Ruislip before the big match against Colchester at home the following week.