Basildon vs. Rochford U12s, 17 January 2010

Last time we met Basildon we won but many could remember it was no walkover and that their team had some pretty nippy players. Still, expectations were running high so off we all trooped to see if our boys could repeat their past performance.

After a bit of a ramble along Gardner’s Way we finally found the pitch. Unfortunately it also seemed to double up as a park and there was rather a lot of um, err, how to say politely, “orrible” dog poo – and it was most definitely from a Basildon dog (or dogs) !.

Fortunately some mum had a few doggy bags in her coat so after a quick mop up and the obligatory hang around to let the parents get a bit colder, the ref blew the whistle and the “11am kick off” kicked off promptly at 11.30am.

Well before Mrs Banks uttered the first of many “blow my feet are freezing” Rochford had scored and from then on they then proceeded to dominate the game. Although it was obvious Rochford were by far the better side it was in the way they played which impressed all and ultimately enabled them to win the game so convincingly. Great rucking, some blinding individual running, fearlessness and above all else the willingness to pass the ball and the ability to catch it and seize the moment won this game.

A few too many penalties (watch out for them as a better side would make you pay) and perhaps the need to sometimes offload the ball before the tackle were Match Reporter’s only criticisms. However these small failings were probably the result of over eagerness and were completely justified in the end match result.

It would be wrong to single out players for individual praise as this was most definitely a team event from start to finish. 11 tries and 7 conversions took the end result way beyond any past performance and left all us parents most impressed and proud. However, not once did Basildon give up and there were a few moments when they could have scored. So all credit to them for giving us a match, but in the end the day was all Rochford’s.

At the end of the game when Match Reporter asked the coach how he felt he couldn’t have been any more chuffed. “They listened to everything I said” he gushed. Well done boys – looking forward to the next display.