WAKE UP CALL FOR DISAPPOINTING ROCHFORD

After the highs of the previous weeks Rochford were brought firmly back down to earth in a very close and competitive encounter against their old rivals.

Although Rochford held the lead for most of the game it was the home side that produced that little extra at the death. It was tough on the visitors but they had only themselves to blame for not being street wise enough to close off the game in the final minutes and allowed a resurgent Chelmsford to come back with a series of attacks resulting in a last gasp converted try to win the match

Playing down the sloping pitch in the first session Rochford had to defend against some aggressive running by Chelmsford and were forced to give away a penalty that full back Holt slotted over for a three point lead.

This only lasted a few minutes before Tom Ashton equalled the score with a penalty of his own after some good pressure from Rochford.

Gradually Rochford started to get their hands on some ball through a good set scrum and turnover loose ball which allowed their backs room to show off their paces with both wings Tom Bavington and Marcus spremulli giving the opposition plenty to worry about.

In the centres Matt Stewart and practically Michael Stemp forced Chelmsford to defend desperately and were unlucky on a number of occasions not to profit better.

In spite of Chelmsford’s strong, and sometimes, overzealous defence the Rochford forwards produced enough good ball for scrum half Bracknell to give Ashton chances to create a number of attacks with quick hands and deft kicking and this led to his team getting the breakthrough they wanted when the strong running Stemp crashed over for a try which Ashton converted .

Chelmsford kicked another penalty to narrow the score to 10- 6 at the break.

From the restart the home side seemed to show a more determined attitude and from a good move scored a try and shortly after kicked a further penalty and all of a sudden Rochford were 10 – 14 down.

The lineout, which should have been a Rochford strength was not producing enough good ball in spite of the sterling efforts of captain Sam Tape, Scott Horsburgh and Ross Murphy and on some occasions it became a lottery with ball bobbing about creating a free for all.

The set scrum, on the other hand, was a strength and helped the visitors to win good ball and they used it to launch attacks and from one of these the impressive full back Dan Needham showed his pace and skill from deep to split the defence running three quarters of the pitch and then linking with the supporting Tom Ashton who sped through to score and then convert his try.

The momentum was now with Rochford going into the last 10 minutes and when they forced Chelmsford back on their try line with a number of scrums it seemed that the Magnolia Road boys were going to finish in style.

Unfortunately nothing came from this pressure and the home side were able to break away and many tense minutes passed as they pounded their opponent’s line and even then Rochford’s defence managed to keep them out but instead of clearing their lines Rochford tried to run the ball out of defence.

It was to prove fatal as once to many times the ball went loose and Chelmsford took their chance and went over for the important converted try much to the delight of their team and supporters.

Next week at home against South Woodham will be another stern test but I am sure the team will take the lessons learnt and use them to their advantage.