NOT THE BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR

It turned out, as feared, that Diss at their place, with an extra successful cup game played last week, would be more than a handful for Rochford to deal with.

So it was and by a winning margin of 6 tries to 2 there was no doubt that they were the better team on the day but Rochford never gave up the challenge.

The first half was a competitive affair with the visitors giving as good as they got and only the more clinical finishing of the Norfolk outfit the difference.

No score for the first 20 minutes before pressure told and Diss went over for a converted try but Rochford fought back and pressure of their own saw scrum half Brett Smith dive over the line to reduce the deficit.

The set scrums had been equally contested and lineouts 50/50 but Diss were quicker to the breakdown and more direct in their running.

Two more tries by Diss, both scored by the full back, and one converted, finished off the first half scoring and put the home side 19 -5 ahead at the break.

With a strong wind in their favour Rochford were still in the game and a good second half performance could have seen them make up the difference.

Well things do not always turn out as we would like and a combination of Diss increasing the tempo of their game and a lack of cohesive play and fitness from Rochford left them well beaten.

Three more tries, two of which were converted, killed off the game for the Essex boys even after a late rally and try by wing Jon Baker.

Not too many pluses to take out of this apart from another good performance from Dan Needham at full back who tried to inject some pace into his team’s efforts.

There was plenty of guts and determination from everybody but, which, against sides like Diss are just not enough.

There were glimpses of how Rochford can play, especially in the first half, but the failure to finish off promising moves did not help their cause.

A great deal of hard graft between now and next Saturday at South Woodham will have to be the order of the day to get the team back on track.

Other worries are injuries to Dan Needham, Scott Horsburgh and Scott Chivers which will need to be addressed during the week.