ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS PROMOTION GOAL

Another convincing away win against a combative and determined Ruislip outfit although the boys in black never seemed to get into full gear after a week’s break.

In spite of some slack and loose play by Rochford their extra fitness and skill level told running in 10 tries but conceding 2 tries.

On a dry, bright but blustery afternoon the Essex boys soon got onto the scoreboard with a Jamie Douglas try which Cameron Greenhall duly converted.

Big Jodie Allen, returning after a three-week ban was next up and showed his intent to get back to rugby action with a powerful effort and Greenhall added the extra.

Ruislip are a stronger side now than in the previous match when Rochford knocked up 127 points against them and they were far more competitive. The home side forced the visitors into giving away territory and possession on a number of occasions.

The set scrummage tended to go Rochford’s way most of the afternoon and the lineouts were fairly even, but the main battle was fought in the open and loose play where Ruislip gave as good as they got and Rochford had to defend hard.

Having said that with ball in hand Rochford were deadly and further tries followed. Wing Chrism Dudman went over for a fine try before the home team responded with a try of their own. Soon after the visitors came back, and Jodie Allen crashed through to score his second and bonus point try.

Allen was immense all game and he was instrumental in the next try when he powered through the Ruislip defence and offloaded to the supporting Michael Guess to dive over. Greenhall converted all these tries to put Rochford 35-5 ahead at the break.

Hundred had the advantage of the slope in the second half and the wind had abated. They took the advantage early on when Matt Stewart, returning to the side after time off, scored a good try and Greenhall did the honours.

Speedy Iain Meads, playing at full back for the injured Mark Billings, showed his pace and raced in for another try and Cameron Greenhall slotted over his seventh conversion of the game.

It sounds like one-way traffic but during a great deal of the second session Ruislip had plenty of ball and forced Rochford to defend very hard to keep them out. The Middlesex side were eventually rewarded with another try to boost their spirits but this Rochford side tend to finish strongly and so they did on this afternoon.

Further tries by Dudman, Ricki Gould and Sam Nash with Dudman kicking over two conversions finished the scoring and a job well done with an away win against a revitalise Ruislip but without reaching the heights that this team is so well capable of.

The crunch match is next week when the team host second placed and high-flying Colchester and they know that they will have to tighten up some aspects of play and concentrate their minds for this confrontation.

There is no doubt in my mind they will do exactly that as they are a team for the big occasion and are only too well aware of the importance of this match in the club’s ambition for promotion.