From the high exaltation of playing some of their best rugby this season and being in total control to the deepest despair of seeing victory snatched away in the last seconds.

Rochford played their hearts out but severe injury crisis took it’s toll and in the end a Jubilant Brentwood were able to scramble back into a game that should have been beyond them to manage to gather enough reserves to win with the last kick of the match.

The tragic death of young Angus Hardie was remembered with sadness by a minute’s silence before the match and reminds all of us how unfair life can be. Our deepest condolences go out to his family at this time.

After the dismal fare offered up last week Rochford looked a totally different outfit as they attacked with fast powerful rugby and should have gone ahead in the first few seconds.

They had to wait a further five minutes before stand off Tom Ashton opened the scoring with a great try which he converted. This was followed up by more of the same pressure which saw strong young prop Josh Berry drive over to put the home side ahead 12 -0 in as many minutes.

During this period a bad injury to newly returned Darren Spencer was a blow and to make things worse Sam Barnes, who had only just come back from injury, had to leave the field with a re-occurrence of the same problem.

Jack Lemmon and Harry Chipper came on as replacements and the game continued in earnest. Tom Ashton slotted over a neat penalty to increase the lead before Brentwood were able to claw three points back with one of their own.

Rochford’s play was delight to watch as they spread the ball wide and forced Brentwood into making a number of errors under pressure.

The scrummage was secure and Messrs Sam Tape and Ross Murphy were sweeping up in the lineout. Simon Webb was having a great time with so much ball and No.8 James Needham was outstanding in tight and loose play. In fact he was next up with a marvellous try under the posts which Ashton converted to bring the score to 22 – 8 in Rochford’s favour at the break.

The one way traffic continued into the second half as the ever reliable Ashton kicked another penalty to extend the lead and later in the half James Needham once again crossed the line for another great effort for Ashton to convert.

32- 8 ahead with about a quarter of the game to go. Nothing could go wrong now... Could it ? Brentwood started their revival with a try to bring the score to 32 – 13 but still not a problem.

The next big blow to the home team was the lose of captain Sam Tape with a serious leg injury and positions had to be altered which started to effect both scrum and lineout as well as sapping precious energy out of the players.

Replacement prop Billy Rowes suffered a blood injury and Rochford were down to 14 men and the fast pace of this game began to catch up with them. With only 10 minutes left in proper play the visitors somehow sensed that the pendulum had begun to swing their way. Whereas earlier refereeing decisions were not going their way the reverse started to happen as often occurs and suddenly they found the strength to raise their game. Another injury blow came as James Needham, a big influence on the game, had to be carried off and, although Billy Rowes had returned to the field Rochford were still struggling with 14 players.

Brentwood’s wing scored a late try which he converted and straight after they scored again when their centre squeezed over in the corner. This try was again converted and Brentwood were now only 5 points adrift going into injury time.

As injury time dragged on Rochford conceded a lineout five metres out from their try line and from the resultant won ball Brentwood drove over for their second row to ground.

Scores level and with the last action of the game their kicker duly obliged by converting the try to send the Brentwood boys into rapture and disbelieving Rochford into silent despair.

The boys must pick themselves up and face the challenges to come in spite of the high injury count. It will not be easy but they have shown character and skill which will put them in good stead for the games ahead.

Team: Wright, Chivers, Berry, Murphy, Tape, Davies, Corbet, Needham J, Webb S, Ashton, Baker J, Spencer, Hall, Stubbs, Barnes, Rowes, Chipper H, Lemmon.