DISSAPPOINTED ROCHFORD SETTLE FOR LOSING BONUS POINT

On a perfect pitch for running rugby Rochford took the game to their hosts in the first 10 minutes of this fast, exciting and on occasions frantic match but were unable to put points on the board.

Haberdashers kept their heads and slowly started to counterattack and were rewarded with a try. This was produced by playing the ball through their well organised pack who drove through a fragile Rochford defence to power over.

It was apparent early on that this was going to be a tactic that would pay dividends for them and so it turned out to be.

More pressure from the home side and a penalty kick put them further ahead by 8 points and, although the visitors sped the ball through fast hands to create chances Haberdashers defence was up to the task and simple errors stopped a number of promising moves.

Eventually Rochford’s fast, aggressive play produced a well taken try by flanker Liam Searle and full back Dan Needham added the extra 2 points.

The game was evenly contested with the old boys running the ball quickly to the wings and also using their big forwards to drive holes in the Rochford defence.

The Essex boys in turn tried to run their opposition ragged with some excellent fast flowing rugby through the backs with O’Connor, Dan Needham, Stewart and Bracknell causing all sorts of problems. Centre Nick Brown and wings Levy and Prior were all involved in many attacks.

As often happens the opposition absorbed the pressure and once again a forceful driving maul by their forwards came up trumps for them and another surge resulted in a try just before half time.

Rochford turned round 7 -13 which was scant reward for their efforts but were determined to make amends in the second half.

Good ball from the lineout from Stephenson, Whight, Knowles and Needham made up for some poor scrum ball as Haberdashers began to dominate this phase.

The home side, seemed to be getting the rub of the green at this stage and two penalties in quick succession increased their lead to 19 -7 as this seesaw of a game progressed.

Rochford in spite of their obvious skill and determination were their own worst enemies at times by trying too hard and shifting ball in hand when a well placed kick would have been the better option.

Having said that this team is full of talent and spirit and gradually they started to win a great deal of good ball and launched attack after attack on the Haberdashers line. Powerful no 8 James Needham produced what was needed by driving over to finish off an exciting piece of play and his brother Dan converted.

With the score at 14 -19 with fifteen minutes to go it was poised to go either way and Rochford had their tails up .They threw everything at the Haberdashers line but good defence and some slack finishing allowed the home side off the hook.

In the last few frantic minutes Rochford then had to defend themselves and just managed to keep their opponents at bay as the final whistle blew.

Some very good play but again some basic errors and poor decision making is stopping Rochford getting the rewards their efforts deserve.

It will come with every player putting in that little extra and with new signings such as Lloyd O’Connor, Nick Ventress, Byron Defreitus, JP Rodrigeuz and others who will make their mark as the season progresses.