A VERY CLOSE RUN THING

As entertainment goes you would be hard pressed to find better but a great disappointment to the home side that had the best of this enthralling encounter but came away losing.

It was the quality of the Suffolk team’s clinical finishing which was the difference between the two teams but Rochford had the edge most of the afternoon with their dominant set scrum and aggressive loose play together with a great deal of territorial advantage.

The continual weakness of lack of finishing power and elementary errors let them down in a frantic first half where Ipswich soaked up the pressure and when they were presented with a chance they took it.

Their opportunities were limited but when they came Ipswich responded with three tries, two of which were converted to a single Tom Ashton penalty and led 19 – 3 at the break and probably thought they had this game in the bag which seemed to be the case.

The second session saw a more purposeful and organised Rochford come out and took the game to their more vaunted opposition and sustained pressure was rewarded when Andy Baker squeezed over for a deserved try.

The home team had scummaged well all game with Michael Mark, Scott Chivers and new signing Luke Irvine anchoring a strong set piece and were now begging to reap some benefit from it to keep presenting Ipswich with many problems.

The visitors however, were next to score with another well taken effort to give them a bonus point and increase their lead to 24-8.

Rochford were particularly successful in the loose play where Mark, Corbet, Chivers and especially Darren Spencer were tackling and driving with real intent, closely followed by the rest of the pack.

In the backs Jon Baker, Dan Needham and Sam Edwards looked sharp and Dan Bracknell at scrum half also had a good match.

Every player in the team contributed hugely to the cause which was evident in Rochford’s second try when Ross Murphy, who was playing one of his best games, crashed over the line for Ashton to convert and bring the score line to 15 – 24

A Ipswich penalty increased their lead once more but Rochford upped their game again showing some exciting running and fast ball handling and only good Ipswich defence kept them out.

Pressure had to pay off and from a solid Rochford scrum near the Ipswich line Darren Spencer powered over for a terrific try which Ashton duly converted and going into the final few minutes the score stood at 22 -27 with all the play coming from the home side.

Another penalty was awarded to the home team in front of the posts and Rochford opted for the kick which Tom Ashton put between the uprights and then the side had to endure a few very anxious minutes defending to stop a now worried Ipswich from scoring again.

The match finished as it started with Rochford forcing the play to get that all important try but time ran out and the final whistle blew to deny them a victory that was within their grasp.

Ipswich must have been well pleased to come away from their visit with a win and a bonus point but they knew that they had been in one hell of a game.