IDEAL START TO NEW SEASON

Rochford opened this new and exciting chapter of their history with an emphatic victory over the seasoned National 3 league side Tring in deepest Hertfordshire on Saturday.

It was a competitive and, at times, combative encounter between two teams that wanted to get their season off to a flying start.

Well in the end it was the lads from Essex that turned out to be the better team on the day and must be thrilled to come away with a win and which is now 49 league games unbeaten, all with try bonus points.

The home side started at a pace and took the game to their opponents with both forwards and backs moving the ball through the hands to get an early break. Patient Rochford held firm with some awesome defensive work and some immense tackling to force back Tring, but an infringement allowed the home team a chance at goal which they took to lead 3 – 0.

It was apparent from early on that the Rochford set piece had control of the scrummage which only increased as the game progressed until they totally dominated the Tring scrum.

Gradually Rochford started to win good ball which allowed their strong and powerful runners, particularly in the forwards to make yards in drives up to the Tring line.

A series of set and loose forward drives were frustrated by Tring and eventually the referee had no option but to award the visitors with a well earnt penalty try.

Further fast, attacking play by Rochford saw impressive centre Sonny Gay drive over for another try which full back Chris Dudman converted and Hundred were now 14 – 3 in the lead.

Tring fought back and were rewarded with another penalty which they slotted over to take the first half score in favour of Rochford to 14 – 6.

The forceful running and ball control of both the powerful pack and the elusive running of the backs had taken the sting out of the home side and the likes of Craig Strachan, Adam Ferrier and Michel Guess had laid the foundations of the set piece dominance and in the back row the ever youthful James Kellard was a force to be reckoned with. Sam Fombo and Jamie Douglas also caused havoc in the loose and the Rochford supporters looked forward to an exciting second half.

They were not disappointed as their team grew stronger in the last forty minutes.

Captain Harry Hudson, another player who led by example, went over after some intense pressure on the Tring line and Dudman added the extra two points to increase the lead.

The Hertford shire rallied and had a period of their own pressure which resulted in a try to bring the score line to 21 -11 but that was as good as it got for them as Rochford took control again.

Although Rochford’s set scrum and powerful loose play was the basis for this win the lineout was hit and miss with a degree of either overthrown or not straight calls, so it was ironic that the best try of the afternoon came from that phase of play.

This absorbing encounter was drawing to a close, with the final minutes ticking away and the visitors desperate to get that vital bonus point. The game was won but the boys wanted the extra point to keep that record going.

A penalty awarded to them and a kick to touch five metres out from the Tring line saw a perfect throw to Fombo and then a textbook drive to the line and a grounding by that man Hudson gave them what they wanted.

An excellent kick by Chris Dudman finished the scoring and the referee blew his whistle and that was that. Job done and a terrific way to get this new campaign under way.

New signings Aston Bevans-Royston, Mac Duaibe, Damien Brambley and Sam Arnott all gave good account of themselves as did the rest of this tried and tested outfit.

An excellent start to the season but a long way to go yet and another huge test next week as Rochford play host to the other Hertfordshire team Hertford who also had a great start to their season with a large away win at Brighton.