ROCHFORD NEARLY THROW IT AWAY

Anything less than a win in this hard fought encounter would have been an injustice but the combination of a stalwart Holt late challenge and some indifferent rugby by the home team could have provided an upset.

For the most part of this all action match Rochford played the better rugby and looked to be winning comfortably but as so often happens with the side they take the foot off the pedal and allow teams a chance to come back at them.

I suppose in the end both clubs take away something with Rochford getting a bonus point win and Holt picking up two losing bonus points as well.

Rochford started at a pace and were soon ahead with man of the match Tom Ashton slotting over a penalty and impressive flanker Darren Spencer scoring a try which Ashton converted.

Holt hit back with a penalty kick of their own before lively full back Sam Edwards went over for a well taken try for Ashton to add the two points.

At 17 – 3 the home side should have been looking to run away with the game but the stubborn Holt outfit fought back to score a breakaway try which was converted and late in the half scored again to bring the score line to only 17 – 15 at the break.

Rochford were showing plenty of power in the forwards in both scrum and loose where Wiseman, Marks, Knowles, Spencer, Whight and Scott Chivers, before he went off injured, competed with aggression.

The second half was mostly Rochford attacking from all phases with centres Michael Stemp and Matt. Stewart making some impressive runs and Holt’s defence was stretched repeatedly.

The Norfolk side were no slouches themselves when they did have the ball and presented the home outfit with some problems but no scores came from them until later in half.

The star of the show was ,however,Tom Ashton who showed why he is such an asset to the side by scoring 24 points during the afternoon including two second half tries which he duly converted to take his team to 31 -15 and that should have been the end of it.

The visitors though had different ideas as they stormed back with two tries of their own to get within nine points of the home team.

Ashton ,once again, came to the rescue with a neat penalty kick to extend the lead but late on ,after more pressure Holt were awarded a penalty which they slotted over to bring the score to 34 - 28 to secure a losing bonus point to go with their try bonus .

With only six points the difference Rochford had to defend with all their might before the final whistle blew and they could breathe a sigh of relief.

The home team deserved their hard fought win as they dominated most aspects of the game for the majority of the time but could so easily have lost it and Ipswich next week will be a very stern test indeed.