Braintree vs. Rochford U15s, 21 November 2010

The first ten minutes saw Rochford predominantly camped in the Braintree half, but indiscretions and handling errors saw them unable to take advantage of their possession and conceded from Braintree’s first determined attack, Braintree 5 – Rochford 0. From the restart things were much the same as before, this time after about 15 minutes, Braintree’s subsequent attack saw them increase the score from a kicked penalty, Braintree 8 – Rochford 0. More Rochford attacking but this time from a close-in scrum, the ball was worked wide to Ben Nock to score for Rochford, Braintree 8 – Rochford 5. With half time approaching and having given away 10 penalties, Rochford were awarded their first in the 32nd minute, but were unable to make anything of it, so would need to improve their discipline in the second half to get anything from the game.

The second half started with a new Braintree referee and saw Braintree, looking to increase their first half lead, they scored again by running back a Rochford clearance Braintree 13-Rochford 5. Stung by the try, Rochford upped the tempo and again forced Braintree onto the back foot, and in a similar way to their first try, worked the ball wide from a close-in scrum for Ben to score his second, Josh’s conversion was accurate but fell a foot or two short, Braintree 13 - Rochford 10. Braintree were forced to soak up more pressure, holding up two Rochford attempts, and despite winning two 5 yard scrums against the put in, Rochford failed to capitalise on their possession and even allowed Braintree to break out and score again, Braintree 18 – Rochford 10.

With only about 5 minutes remaining Rochford kept pressing, with Hayden Smith scoring a try from a close-in penalty, this time successfully converted, Braintree 18 – Rochford 17, with no further scores in the dying minutes.

This was a good close game, well competed by both sides, 3 trys each, with Braintree winning by a single point, the difference between a successfully kicked penalty compared to a conversion. Braintree won the first half, but Rochford fared best in the second, where I had expected Rochford to fade having to all play a full game, whereas Braintree clearly had several substitutes available.