Harts march on to League Plate Final

Rochford Hundred Harts XV continued their impressive run as of late with an emphatic win over Romford to make the Merit League 1 Plate Final.

Rochford were able to field a strong squad and started brightly using the powerful set piece to set a platform and it wasn’t long before an excellent driving maul resulted in Obeney The Elder crossing the line to open the scoring out wide, Chipper adding the extras, Rochford 7 – 0 Romford.

It wasn’t long before Rochford were on the charge again with some quick thinking by Captain and scrum half Bracknell from a tap penalty making ground deep into the Romford half and finally offloading to the support runners eventually the ball ended up in the hands of Murphy who crashed over the line again Chipper adding conversion, Rochford 14 – 0 Romford. This was then quickly followed up by Obeney’s second of the afternoon to stretch the lead out further, Rochford 19 – 0 Romford.

Romford then began to control the next 15 minutes of play, utilising their powerful scrum to gain advantage, they managed to cross the line twice in quick succession to get them right back in the game, Rochford 19 – 12 Romford.

This was the wake up call the boys from Magnolia Road needed knowing they were now in a game. They retook control and were able to further extend their lead through two more well worked tries firstly from Prior out wide converted by Chipper and then another by Daly after a great chip over the top of the Romford defensive line by Fitzpatrick fell sweetly into the hands of Daly who crashed over before the halftime whistle blew.

Half Time Rochford 31 – 12 Romford

Second half was a strange and stop start affair but was played in good spirit from both sides and Rochford were able to prove their dominance. Chipper opened the try scoring in the second half as after a number of changes the scrum started to become more aggressive. Following Chippers efforts Bracknell was also able to get over the line after a Romford scrum on the own 5 metre line the ball became loose and Bracknell was quickest to react for a well earned try, Rochford 41 – 12 Romford.

Next up Irvine was unlucky not to get himself on the try scorers list after being told that a single movement to the line is NO TRY and his search for that try glory still eludes hi this season after a number of disallowed efforts so far this season.

Daly then recorded his second of the afternoon after a well worked move through the back line ended up in his hands and easily side stepping his opposite number sped over for Chipper to add the extras once again, Rochford 48 – 12 Romford.

As the game drew to a close it was Chipper himself recording is 8th try of the season in just 7 appearances, playing at Number 8 picked the ball from an attacking scrum 5 and a hard hitting run (just ask the Romford Full back about it) finished the afternoons scoring.

Final Score Rochford 53 – 12 Romford.

Rochford Harts XV will now play in 2 Finals in next 2 weeks. Next up is Brentwood in the 2nd XV Essex Cup Final on April 1st to be held at Westcliff RFC. The lads are in fine form and now looking to finish strong with some well earned silverware…

Good Luck lads…