BACK ON TRACK AGAIN

Rochford needed to get back to winning ways again after the disappointing loss at Wimbledon last week. This they did in a workmanlike performance against a big, and competitive London Irish outfit and with a bonus point victory. To be honest this was a rather dull, stop, start affair which was dictated by the wet and rainy conditions, with a number of handling errors and fought between two sides battling to get the upper hand up front.

The match started brightly enough from a Rochford point of view with two well taken tries by the impressive prop / hooker Michael Guess, after good forward approach play on the Irish line, which were both duly converted by centre Chris Dudman. These were the only scores during the first half as both teams tried hard to dominate using the power of their forwards and, on occasions bringing their backs into play.

Set scrummage was even for most of afternoon, although Rochford gradually obtained the upper hand later in the game. Line outs were disappointing for the home side but Sam Fombo, Harry Hudson and Jamie Douglas worked tirelessly all game, the Irish jumpers had the better of this aspect of play throughout the afternoon.

The loose became a free for all on occasions but Rochford tended to do well there and overturned some good ball. The second half continued in much the same manner as it began to rain more and the light faded. The Wild Geese applied pressure though their big forwards on the Rochford line a number of times but the home side are a very tight defensive outfit and did not give anything away.

Rochford also pushed hard to break through but were frustrated time and again by Irish resistance and their own handling errors. There was no more score until later in the second half when a piece of inventive play by Rochford found full back Iain Meads free and he took full advantage to score in the corner to put his team 19 – 0 ahead.

The boys in black desperately needed that fourth try and they increased the tempo of the game and took the game to their opponents and spent quite a time driving and recycling ball until, at last; just before the final whistle, prop Aston Bevans-Royston crashed over for that all important try and Dudman converted to bring proceedings to an end.

Although it was not one of Rochford’s best performances they were never in any real danger of losing this game and in spite of London Irish’s best efforts to frustrate them, the Essex lads can feel reasonably satisfied by a job completed and getting back to keeping the pressure on leaders Wimbledon.

No game next week so time to heal injuries and rest up before a trip down into deepest Surrey to play Guildford the following saturday.

Team:- Brunger, Guess, Bevans-Royston, Fombo, Douglas, Kellard, Hudson, Duaibe, Gould, Martin, Cleare, Dudman, Brambley, Radzevicius, Meads

Subs:- Bailey, Strachan, Arnott