A BITTER SWEET RESULT

They showed once again, given the rub of the green and a little more finishing power, that the team can more than compete against supposed better outfits.

In fact for most of the second half Rochford were dominant and could have won this enthralling encounter if the gods had been more lenient.

Civil Service are a quality side and showed plenty of speed and organisation in the early stages of the game but Rochford equally showed they could create chances as well as both sides went head to head.

Rochford’s young and mostly inexperienced side gave as good as they got and put together some fast, flowing moves with Dan Needham at full back giving the team an extra dimension to their game. He was particularly outstanding all afternoon as well as flanker Tom Corbet who was everywhere to supply ball at the breakdown time and again.

As has been the case in a number of matches this season after all the good work the opposition still have the ability to strike hard when the chances arise. This was again the case as two tries in quick succession duly converted by their impressive stand off put the home side ahead.

Rochford responded with a well worked try of their own which flanker James Robinson finished off under the posts for Tom Ashton to convert. This appeared to shake up Civil Service and the visitors applied more pressure to keep their more vaunted opponents on the back foot.

Towards the end of the half another breakaway created by their fast running backs saw Civil Service go over for another converted try to bring the score to 21 - 7 in the home sides favour at half time.

Rochford’s set scummage is still a problem area and it showed again as the stronger, more compact Service pack disrupted a number of put ins but No.8 James Needham did sterling work in tiding it up alongside Corbet and Robinson and supplied scrum half Simon Webb with some good ball created from nothing to keep the eager back division moving forward.

Probably the try of the match was an exciting piece of running rugby resulting in Tom Corbet crossing over for a morale boosting try and for the majority of the second session it was all Rochford mounting one attack after another and putting a rather shocked looking Civil Service to the sword.

A marvellous piece of skilful play by Dan Needham saw him deep at full back run at full speed to catch a high opposition kick and without any adjustment in speed broke through for the line. Civil Service’s last ditched defence came across to block him but there was a Rochford player up in support inside and Needham floated an overhead pass to him. It should have been a terrific try with the line at their mercy but an opposition hand just managed to touch the ball to divert it away. Such is life.

The lineout and loose were where the play mostly came from and Ross Murphy’s work in the lineout provided some excellent ball for the backs to run.

It was only justice that something should come for all this effort and centre Jack Hall provided the finishing touch from some fast ball work through the hands to reduce the deficit to 17- 21 and only 10 minutes to go.

Could the impossible happen? It certainly looked on the cards as the momentum was with the lads from Essex but rugby can be a cruel game sometimes and due credit to the hard pressed Service side. They responded as good sides always do and increased the tempo to launch a last minute attack. This resulted in a penalty given away and the No.10 duly obliged by slotting it over.24 - 17 and a converted try would still give Rochford an away point as they, once again, dug deep into their reserves to create the chance.

It just was not to be and with the clock counting off the final seconds Civil Service launched one more attack to put a heart breaking final nail in the coffin as their scrum half dived over and the conversion kicked.

The result flatted the winners as they knew that they had been outplayed for long periods of this fast and skilful match and Rochford know that if they keep improving at this rate they are going to see the rewards in the coming weeks.

Keep at it lads because you are a far better outfit than results show and confidence will come as your performances start to show dividends.

Team: Berry, Chivers, Dyer, Ellis, Murphy, Corbet, Robinson, Needham J, Webb, Ashton, Lemon, Allen, Hall, Stubbs, Needham D, Wiseman, Barber, Keating