A Game of Two Halves

This was solved by dusting off the tour shirts from last season. After the league match last week and the limit on player numbers, this match gave Gareth an opportunity to look at more of the squad in action. Two players, Aaron Cocks and Austen King were unavailable and three players were missing due to injury, Daniel Harvey (chest infection), Jacob Lipscombe (back strain) and Henry Willis (broken collar bone). We are looking forward to them healing quickly and playing again.

The forwards began with Chris Martin at loose head, Joe Mitchell at hooker and Jack Stickings at tight head, Jack Murphy and Jack Cahill in the second row, Reece Garstin and Reiss Sellwood at flanker and Corey Lazell at number 8. In the backs Callum Stanley started at scrum half, Tom Harris at fly half, Ethan Hepton and Joseph Cottam at centre, which Connor Jones and Jacob Wright on the wings and Liam Baker at full back.

From the kick off Rochford made their intentions clear, running the ball aggressively and using the full width of the pitch. Rochford recycled the ball well through a number of phases and eventually it broke to Corey Lazell who fixed his eye on the line and was in no mood to be stopped, opening the scoring with a try out by the left corner flag. From the kick off Rochford attacked again and this time they moved down the right with Joseph Cottam and Ethan Hepton combining well. With the ball inside the 22 it was passed to Ethan who broke a tackle and dived for the line with defenders hanging on in a last ditch attempt to stop him. With his arms above his head he had just enough reach to touch down and double the lead.

A knee injury to a Woodham player left them short and so Callum Blackman came off the bench to play for the opposition. Rochford continued the relentless attacking and this time it was Jack Sticking with a trademark run and score. Callum Stanley stepped up and nailed the conversion. Again Rochford attacked almost straight from the kick off and this time it was Jacob Wright who received the ball on the right wing, broke a tackle, cut inside two defenders and scored the fourth try of the game.

Clearly determined not to be outdone, Jack Cahill received the ball inside the Woodham 10 metre line, gritted his teeth and set off on the sort of run that he used so successfully last season. Almost on the 22 a Woodham defender had him by the shirt but his determination meant that he wasn’t stopping. The defender’s grip slipped and Jack was off, over the line and he touched down under the posts. Callum Stanley secured the extra points. After his exertions Jack was replaced by Harrison McKenna.

With five tries already on the board the boys were not finished and a combination in the centre of the pitch saw the ball make its way to Joseph Cottam who made the most of his pace to slip the defence and score under the posts. Again Callum Stanley successfully converted.

In the final play of the half Callum Stanley joined the attack at an angle, wrong footing the defence, slicing through the back line he sprinted for the line to score Rochford’s seventh try of the half and successfully converted.

Half-time - Rochford 43 South Woodham Ferrers 0

The second half began with a number of changes. James Mowle replaced Jack Stickings, Callum Blackman came on for Liam Baker, Callum Stanley was replaced by Rob Sheldrake, Tom Harris by Louis Croll and Reece Garstin was replaced by Louis Dawkins. As the half progressed, it was clear that South Woodham had tightened up their defence and scoring was going to be harder. Rochford helped the defensive efforts with a bad case of white line fever. Instead of using the width and stretching the defence they began to keep the ball and run it in themselves, blunting their attacking edge.

The half began to be interrupted regularly with breaks for injuries including one to Jack Stickings who had been playing for Woodham. A various points Corey Lazell, Callum Stanley, Reece Garstin and Tom Harris also pulled on a Woodham shirt which added a little extra spice to the second half for the Rochford lads. Despite the try count in the first half the second finished without bothering the scorer.

Full time – Rochford 43 South Woodham Ferrers 0

Reiss Sellwood was selected as Man of the Match for his direct running and aggressive tackling around the scrum.

Tries
Corey Lazell
Ethan Hepton
Jack Stickings
Jacob Wright
Jack Cahill
Joseph Cottam
Callum Stanley

Conversions
Callum Stanley (4)

1, Chris Martin; 2, Joe Mitchell; 3, Jack Stickings; 4, Jack Cahill; 5,Jack Murphy; 6, Reiss Sellwood; 7, Reece Garstin; 8; Corey Lazell; 9, Callum Stanley; 10,Tom Harris; 11, Ethan Hepton; 12, Joseph Cottam; 13, Connor Jones; 14,Jacob Wright ; 15, Liam Baker; 16, Harrison McKenna; 17,Louis Dawkins; 18, Rob Sheldrake; 19, Callum Blackman; 20, Louis Croll; 21, James Mowle