Back at Last

To start 2015 with a bang, it was Division 1 side Brentwood who made their way to Magnolia Road on an unseasonally sunny Sunday morning. For Rochford it started the preparations for the upcoming league match with table topping Saffron Walden. The team has had a lot of debuts in the last few seasons but this match was a little special. Back to make their second Rochford debuts on the same day were James Berry and Chris Hastings.

The front row started with Jack Stickings at tight-head prop, Joe Mitchell at hooker and Elliott Parsell at loose-head. Jack Cahill and Jack Murphy continued their second row partnership, and Daniel Harvey started at openside flanker with Henry Willis at blindside and Louis Dawkins at number 8. Callum Stanley began at scrum-half, Tom Harris at fly-half, Ethan Hepton and Joseph Cottam at inside and outside centre with Aaron Cocks and Jacob Wright on the wings. Corey Lazell completed the side at full-back.

The match began with Brentwood pressing into the Rochford half and probing the defensive line to look for an opening. The Rochford defence looked to be holding its own against some big opposition, but Brentwood pushed the defence back to their 22 and eventually the pressure told and they opened the scoring. From the restart Rochford began to show they are made of strong stuff and they started to make inroads into the Brentwood half. A break by Jack Stickings saw Rochford dissect the Brentwood line and some slick passing by Ethan Hepton and Joseph Cottam saw the ball make its way to Aaron Cocks for him to put Rochford on the scoreboard.

Rochford began to press again and seemed to be taking control of the game. A lightening break by Jacob Wright saw him receive the ball just inside the Brentwood half. He looked unstoppable as he skipped past tackles but as he crossed the try line, the last defender tackled him over the touchline and he was denied a well-deserved try. Undaunted the boys began to press again. With the ball secured at a ruck the back began to move it wide only for Brentwood to intercept a pass and score a second against the run of play.

Forward came the boys again and this time the ball broke to Joe Mitchell on the Brentwood 10 metre line and, despite the attention of some of the largest of his opponents, eventually hit the ground inside the 22. From the ruck the ball was worked wide to Aaron Cocks who dived over the line to reduce the deficit to four points at half time.

Half-time – Rochford 10 Brentwood 14

The second half started with James Mowle coming in at loose head, Chris Martin replacing Joe Mitchell at Hooker and Elliott Parsell moving to tight head. James Cowland and Chris Hastings replaced the flankers and Jack Stickings switched to number 8. In the backs James Berry came on at scrum half, Rob Sheldrake at fly half and Connor Jones at right wing.

The second half began with Rochford pressing the Brentwood line and certainly looking like the team most likely to make the break through a series of phases and a couple of penalties saw Rochford get ten metres from the Brentwood line. A series of pick-and-goes by the forwards eventually saw Jack Cahill dive over the line to put the home side ahead. In the melee Chris Martin took a knock to the mouth and was replaced by Joe Mitchell. Joseph Cottam stepped up to slot over the conversion to stretch the lead to three points.

By now the forwards were in the ascendency in the scrum with the Rochford front row forcing the Brentwood props to stand up in the scrum and being penalised by the referee. Gareth decided to freshen up the legs again by replacing Aaron Cocks with Callum Stanley and Ethan Hepton with Tom Harris. The game continued with Brentwood stoutly defending the Rochford attacks but making little headway themselves. Despite some creative play the boys were unable to capitalise on their expansive play and stretch their lead further.

Full time – Rochford 17 Brentwood 14

This was a great performance by the lads after so long without a match. The boys continue to make Gareth’s life more difficult by stepping up the quality of their play. Against Division 1 opposition and with seven changes, the team looked just as strong in the second half.

Jack Stickings was chosen as Man of the Match for his driving running and good work in the scrum at prop and number 8.

Tries
Aaron Cocks 2
Jack Cahill

Conversions
Joseph Cottam

1, Elliott Parsell; 2, Joe Mitchell; 3, Jack Stickings; 4, Jack Cahill; 5, Jack Murphy; 6, Henry Willis; 7, Daniel Harvey; 8, Louis Dawkins; 9, Callum Stanley; 10, Tom Harris; 11, Aaron Cocks; 12, Ethan Hepton; 13, Joseph Cottam; 14, Jacob Wright; 15, Corey Lazell; 16, Rob Sheldrake; 17, Connor Jones; 18, James Berry; 19, James Mowle; 20, James Cowland; 21, Chris Hastings; 22, Chris Martin