Despite plans that would have seen Rochford’s new Academy start the season with a run of home games, changes to the league fixtures made them wait to appear before their home crowd. The team had lost Joe Dodd and Nathan Lockwood to injuries but welcomed back captain Ben Parsons and Lewis Murphy.

The front row started with Daniel House at tight-head prop, Joe Mitchell at hooker and Remy Wingrove at loose-head. Jack Murphy and Sean Honey started in the second row, Austen King at openside flanker with Daniel Harvey at blindside and Ben Parsons at number 8. Liam Baker began at scrum-half, Louis Croll at fly-half, Lewis Murphy and Aaron Cocks at inside and outside centre with Regan Chittenden and Louis Stanesby on the wings. Kofi Arman completed the side at full-back.

Games with Braintree have always been tough and competitive and this game began in the same manner. Both teams probed for a gap in the opposition defence and the game swung back and forth between the twenty-two metre lines with Billericay edging the opening exchanges. Braintree were particularly strong in the scrum and a little quicker to the breakdown which meant that Rochford needed to work harder defensively.

Mid-way through the half it was Braintree that got the break their hard work deserved and they opened the scoring with a powerful run and score on the left. With the jousting resumed after the restart chances continued to be few and far between. Eventually a penalty conceded just inside the Rochford ten metre line saw Braintree elect to kick for the posts. An accurate kick just had the legs to make it over the bar to stretch the visitors’ lead at half-time.

Half-time – Rochford Academy 0 Braintree 8

At half time Ray bought on Chris Martin at hooker and Jack Cahill and Joel Parker in the second row, Max Foreman and James Mowle in the back row.

Rochford began the second half as they played the first, fighting for every ball and looking to break down a solid Braintree defence. However it was the visitors who found the opening and added a converted try to their score.

With that the Academy stepped up a gear and began to put together some more flowing attacks and give the opposition a tougher test. The home team were pressing deep into the Braintree half when the ball broke to Remy Wingrove who powered his way over the line to put some points on the board for Rochford. Liam Baker made sure of maximum points.

This seemed to spur Rochford into greater urgency and they pressed again, this time down the left. With Rochford securing the ball at a ruck 15 metres out Jack Cahill decided to pick and go. His trademark trundle saw him hand off three defenders and his strength got him over the line.

Two minutes left on the clock, three points down.

Rochford were awarded a penalty near the Braintree 10 metre line which was moved forward for something said to the referee and then compounded out of sheer frustration. Eventually Rochford took the penalty on the 5 metre line and it was Ben Parsons who dived over to get the points and win the match.

Full time – Rochford Academy 17 Braintree 15

This was a victory very much snatched from the jaws of defeat but the lesson of never giving up and working hard till the final whistle is an important one. No doubt with all players settled in and in their usual positions the Rochford play would have been more flowing and effective. However a win is a win and this keeps the momentum the team has built in previous games at 7 and 15 a-side.

Braintree were quite right to be disappointed that their fantastic efforts didn’t bring them a win.

Tries
Remy Wingrove
Jack Cahill
Ben Parsons

Conversions
Liam Baker

1, Remy Wingrove; 2, Joe Mitchell; 3, Daniel House; 4, Jack Murphy; 5, Sean Honey; 6, Austen King; 7, Daniel Harvey; 8, Ben Parsons; 9, Liam Baker; 10, Louis Croll; 11, Regan Chittenden; 12, Lewis Murphy; 13, Aaron Cocks; 14, Louis Stanesby; 15, Kofi Amran; 16, Jack Cahill; 17, Chris Martin; 18, James Mowle; 19, Max Foreman; 20, Joel Parker