ROCHFORD DIG DEEP FOR THEIR HARD FOUGHT WIN

Report by Graham Pratt

After the wet and dinginess of the past week, the sun came out and the rain stayed away and playing conditions were good. A very large crowd including many past Rochford players gave this vital top of the table match just the right atmosphere and the scene was set for a momentous clash! It did not turn out to be the fast flowing game that many people predicted, as there was so much at stake and in truth it became a war of attrition between two equal sides that fought it out to the bitter end.

Wimbledon, this time round, appeared much stronger up front and gave the daunted Rochford eight a run for their money. Their backs were as tricky and pacey as on the previous encounter and looked dangerous every time they had the ball. That said Rochford had learnt lessons from their visit to Wimbledon earlier in the season where they only just lost a very tight affair. They came storming out of the blocks to go 5 points ahead curtesy of an Adam Ferrier drive, after a catch and drive from a line-out and then some powerful forward play on the Wimbledon line.

That was the only score of the first half, but not from the want of trying from both teams; where the visitors threw everything at the boys in black without success, as Rochford’s defence held firm under a great deal of pressure from this good West London outfit and where flanker Craig Strachan was outstanding.

There were many stoppages during this time due to injury and technical infringements which slowed the game down. Wimbledon’s set scrummage and driving mauls were of a high standard and Rochford had to dig deep to counter them. The visitors line out, however, was poor whereas Sam Fombo, Jamie Douglas and Harry Hudson dominated this aspect of play.

Wimbledon had the benefit of the sun and a lively cross wind in their favour in the first session and this should now be an advantage to the home side in the second. Nobody told the Londoners that as they forced the pace and were rewarded with a penalty which their no.10 duly slotted over to put the score at an uncomfortable 5- 3. Wimbledon seemed to have sorted out their line out problems and were still formidable in tight and loose.

More injury and other stoppages stopped the flow of this absorbing game and Rochford again had to put in some heavy and effective tackling to keep their opponents at bay. As the game progressed this phase of the match became more and more important as Wimbledon became frustrated and started to make errors.

As we know of this Rochford side, they know how to win these tight games and they went back to basics. Long, racking kicks from Cameron Greenhall put his team into good attacking areas and the pack got down to the business of creating the chances.

Patience eventually paid off and, again, from a well executed catch and drive it was captain Harry Hudson who did the honours of forcing his way across the line for a relieving try. Cameron Greenhall kicked an excellent conversion from the touch line and Rochford were 12- 3 ahead and starting to look good for it.

Wimbledon needed to get something from this match as the clock ticked away from them and they came back with a vengeance. It was to no avail as Rochford’s defensive machine went into overdrive. They have the best defensive record in this league and they just showed why this is the case.

In the end it was down to the Essex boys pack to play out the final long minutes with controlled and stubborn ball control, to see out this so important game. They also had to do it with only 14 men due to yellow card infringement on Sonny Gay.

Not a classic match by any means but it was a hard, uncompromising duel between two sides of contrasting styles .It was also a triumph of excellent and organised defence against a very good side .It was also sheer bloody mindedness by a team that is used to winning even if it is not, on occasions, very pretty to watch.

Well done all of you but still a long way to go especially with Guernsey continuing to knock up the 5 point wins.

A week off from league action next week when a mouth watering encounter with local rivals Southend at Magnolia Road in the Essex Cup is in the offering.

Team:- Bailey,Ferrier A.,BevansRoyston,Douglas,Fombo,Duaibe,Strachan, Hudson, Gould, Greenhall, Cleare, Gay, Dudman, Brambley, Billings

Subs:- Guess, Shields, Meads