ASHTON STEERS ROCHFORD TO HARD FOUGHT VICTORY

In this tight, dour, rearranged league match it was Rochford that came away with the result thanks, mostly to the boot of standoff Adam Ashton

The venue was changed from South Woodham to Magnolia Road Saturday morning due to a waterlogged pitch although any advantaged this might have given Rochford, who were officially the away side, was not immediately apparent as they had to fight hard from the off.

Ashton put Rochford ahead early on with a penalty kick but their opponents replied with a well worked try to take the lead.

This was quickly followed up with a penalty kick by South Woodham to increase their lead to 8 - 3.

Both sides went at each other with vigour but Woodham seemed to have more of the possession generally, although Rochford’s set scrum and driving mauls were impressive and when they did get some momentum going they looked dangerous.

The tactical kicking of Ashton during this period made a difference as his long pressure reducing kicks allowed Rochford to regroup and launch attacks.

From one of these occasions Rochford set up a maul near the South Woodham line and scrum half Brett Smith sped through for a try and level the scoreboard at 8-8 at half time.

The second half carried on in similar fashion with both sets of forwards trying to get the upper hand with a number of untidy rucks and mauls and with a few promising back line attacks from both teams eventually coming to nothing as either strong defence or poor handling intervened.

Gradually Rochford started to increase the tempo of their game and it paid off as it forced Woodham into errors.

Three penalty kicks from Rochford’s Ashton without reply turned out to be the all important factor and the team just about deserved their win as they took their kicking chances when they came and played with enough control to take the honours.

Encouraging performances from the pack in general with Ryan Stephenson, Scott Chivers, Tom Corbet, Louis Warner and others having good games.

A promising debut from young Josh Illingworth was another plus and in the backs Michael Stemp and Matt Stewart, Matt White and Jack Baker looked full of running when they had the ball.

Rochford’s defence for the most part coped well with a lively Woodham side but, in the end, it was Adam Ashton’s tactical, line and place kicking that proved the difference.

Rochford, however, will need to perform at a higher level next week when they host Campion.