Rochford continued their positive form to give second placed Eton Manor a run for their money and were within an inch of getting an unlikely win against the East Londoners.

In spite of a lively start by the home side who took the game to Manor and were unlucky not to score they found themselves behind.

A try by the visitors winger was followed by a penalty kick to take the away side to a 0 – 8 lead.

Rochford, however, have more grit of late and they continued to run and tackle with purpose to keep Manor at bay and forced them into errors.

Their endeavour eventually paid off when, after a good attacking movement full back Marcus Spremulli outpaced the defence to score an excellent try to reduce the deficit.

The Rochford pack were showing plenty of aggression with Michael Mark, Greg Whight, Darren Spencer, Byron Defreitus and the rest of the forwards creating good ball for O’Connor and later Dan Bracknell,to feed to their backs which Ventress,Tusini and Stewart exploited well.

A number of chances were made but final touches let the team down and the score of 5 – 8 stayed the same until half time.

Eton Manor started the second half by going up a gear and soon went further ahead with a converted try but Rochford kept the pressure on and were rewarded for their efforts.

Stand-off Nick Ventress slotted over two penalty kicks in quick succession to bring the score to 11 – 15 and Rochford sensed that Manor were feeling the pressure.

The home team threw everything at their opponents and should have scored at least a couple of tries but final execution was found wanting and somehow the visitors survived the storm.

As is the case with good sides, and Manor are one of those, they have the ability to up their game. Even in spite of playing with fourteen men after a red card offence they went up a gear and scored two late tries, one of which was converted, to take the game away from a dejected Rochford.

The home team did not give in and went full out to get something for all their hard work and determination and the excellent prop Marks drove over for a last minute try to bring the score to a more credible 16 – 27 but Rochford knew it should have been a great deal closer than that.

Both teams fought out a hard and combated match with not much between them except when needed Manor had that little extra directness and composure that comes from winning games regularly. That is why they are where they are in the table and Rochford need to be more clinical in their finishing especially after doing the hard work of creating the chances.

Next week away to Basildon and that will be a very big game but Rochford know they have what it takes to get the right result.