STUNNING SECOND HALF DIPLAY PUTS ROCHFORD ON TOP

This was definitely a game of two halves as Rochford blew away gutsy Holt’s challenge in the second half in a try scoring bonanza, with both sides supplying plenty of entertainment for their respective supporters.

It all looked so different running up to half time as the home side struggled to overcome a determined and lively Holt outfit with an excellent kicker who punished them for basic errors.

Rochford showed from the off that they were the stronger side up front in set scrums and in the loose with their very effective driving mauls causing the visitors plenty of problems.

Holt themselves, were no slouches at forward drives which created a lot of turnover ball and forced errors although on balance Rochford had the majority of possession.

The trouble is that good work is done but a high penalty count hold them back as was shown in the first session as Holt scored an early converted try after some slack Rochford play.

The driving maul came to their rescue once again as impressive number eight Scott Horsburgh finished off a forward surge with a try.

Holt responded with their powerful kicking centre slotting over a penalty and then following up with another one. He also just missed a long range kick as well as hitting the crossbar with another otherwise the score would have been a lot more.

However Rochford forwards responded well and drove their opponents back onto their try line and Horsburgh ,once more, used his power to crash over and Adam Ashton duly converted to bring the score line to 12 -13 at the break.

The second half started badly for the home team as an intercepted pass saw the Holt no.12 run half the length of the field to score and then convert his own try.

Not to be outdone prop Scott Chivers ,who was having a fine game, sped through to score a try to reduce the margin before Holt’s no.12 scored another try to put his side ahead 25-17.

Going into the last half hour things were beginning to look a little worrying but from somewhere Rochford just exploded into action and put aside all the earlier failings to score five tries without reply to bring an end to the Norfolk side’s challenge.

First Adam Ashton, with a neat piece of skill gathered the ball chipped ahead and retrieved the ball to run under the posts and convert and then second row Ross Murphy went over for a try which Ashton added the two points.

Scrum half Brett Smith kept his try scoring ability up with another try and Ashton, again, converted.

Late in this absorbing match acting captain Tom Corbet finished off a fine move to score the seventh Rochford try.

Just before the final whistle the home side allowed Holt to run in for a consolation try which gave them a try scoring bonus point.

The end result was never in doubt however and in the end Rochford were worthy victors thanks to an outstanding performance by their forwards in the last quarter and a number of excellent individual contributions from the likes of Ashton, Chivers, Horsburgh, Whight, Murphy, Corbet, Spencer and others.

It was more importantly a great team effort after a poor start and puts them top of the table after defeats by Chelmsford and Norwich.