BRENTWOOD CAPITALISE ON DISAPPOINTING ROCHFORD PERFORMANCE

For the most part this match was a very close and hard fought affair with defences on both sides working at full pelt.

In the end Brentwood played like a team and applied the pressure when required and Rochford did not respond accordingly picking up three yellow cards during a fraught last twenty minutes.

The home side looked very loose and although there were some good individual performances they did not perform as a complete outfit.

The game started at a pace with both sides going at each other with forceful attacks but strong defensive work kept the scoreboard blank until 30 minutes into the half.

Rochford at last broke down the Brentwood barrier and after good approach work hooker Tom Corbet dived over to score.

This spurred Brentwood on to launch more moves and late in the half their forwards drove over the Rochford line for a converted try.

To finish the first half the visitors were awarded a penalty kick which their stand off duly slotted over to turn round 10 -5 up.

The second half continued in the same vein with both sides trying to gain advantage and Rochford won good ball from lineout and loose but could not put together sufficient quality play and ball was wasted.

Their endeavours did pay off eventually when powerful no.8 James Needham scored an excellent try for his brother Dan to convert.

Back in front again but short lived Brentwood came back with another try to regain the lead.

The game was evenly poised going into the last quarter but this was where it all went horribly wrong for the boys in black as Brentwood increased the tempo and Rochford fell foul of the referee who sin binned three Rochford players and during a ten minute spell had to play with 13 men.

Brentwood, being the good side they are, took full advantage and scored two tries one of which they converted and kicked a penalty .

Game over and a dejected Rochford were left to reflect on what might have been and think about how they move forward from here.

The side needs to start gelling again and the new players with need plenty of help to settle in but once that happens I am sure things will begin to take shape.