Match Report by Graham Pratt

Rochford were good value for their impressive win over second place Sudbury to go clear at the top of the table. On a beautiful sunny afternoon ideal for running rugby both sides did not disappoint the good crowd with some fast and exciting running back play and good forward competition up front.

Sudbury came to win and started off on the offensive pinning the home side back into their twenty metre area but out of the blue big centre Craig Webb intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field to score and convert his own try.

Sudbury hit back shortly after with a penalty but again Rochford struck back with full back Greg Stubbs completing a fast flowing attack to outpace the opposition to run in a try which Webb converted.

Rochford’s lineout was excellent all afternoon with Sam Tape, Ryan Stephenson and Ross Murphy sharing the honours but once again the scrum struggled against the bigger and stronger Sudbury pack. This was made up by the effort all the forwards put into the loose play and showed plenty of aggression and skill.

However it was the visitors who, territorily, had the advantage in the first half but the magnificent Rochford defence and Sudbury errors kept them at bay until late in the half a period of Sudbury pressure saw them go over for an unconverted try to reduce the score line to 14 – 8 at the turn round.

Craig Webb continued his successful afternoon with a well struck penalty to extend the lead for Rochford and gradually the pattern of play changed with the Magnolia Road boys taking the upper hand with good turn over ball and quick attacking play.

Sustained pressure on the Sudbury line resulted in stand off Dan Needham breaking through to score under the posts and again Webb to convert.

Sudbury to their credit kept working hard to get back in the game and always looked dangerous in attack. Eventually their efforts paid off when their second row finished off a move to dive over.

Going into the last quarter at 24 – 13 the visitors were still a threat but that virtually ended when powerful centre Darren Spencer stormed through the Sudbury defence to seal the game with a deserved try. Craig Webb completed a very good personal performance with the conversion.

On a personal note stand off / full back Tom Ashton had to cry off this game through injury which is the first match he has missed in five years. Some record Tom.