Brain Drain

By the time we meet in the league in April we should all be on first name terms.

The front row started with Jack Stickings at tight-head prop, Chris Martin at hooker and James Mowle at loose-head. Jack Cahill and Jack Murphy in the second row, Reece Garstin at openside flanker with Ethan Hepton at blindside and Austen King at number 8. Callum Stanley began at scrum-half, Tom Harris at fly-half, Joseph Cottam and Louis Dawkins at inside and outside centre with Connor Jones and James Cowland on the wings. Liam Baker completed the side at full-back.

We knew from our previous match where Braintree were particularly strong and the boys set out to stifle their main attacking outlets. The first phases of play were particularly even with some tough tackling on both sides stopping either team making any substantial progress. Eventually it was the Braintree number 8 who made the breakthrough and with a successful conversion put the visitors 7-0 ahead.

With both sides eager to get the ball wide and into space the game became absorbing despite the majority of play taking place in the middle third of the pitch. However a sweeping move by Rochford saw Louis Dawkins break through a gap and open the scoring for the hosts. Callum Stanley added the extra two points to level things.

Braintree weren’t planning sit back and attacked again scoring their second try and conversion to leave them seven points ahead at half-time.

Half-Time - Rochford 7 Braintree 14

At half-time Gareth made the changes with Rob Sheldrake on at scrum half, Jacob Wright came on at outside centre and Corey Lazell at number 8 with Austen King switching to blindside flanker. The second half continued as the first with both sides having their share of the ball and cancelling each other out to a large extent.

Rochford responded again and a good combination of passes and some effective rucking made ground in the Braintree half. The pressure was constant but a series of knock-ons took the momentum out of the attack. Eventually it was Braintree who scored the first points of the half with a trademark burst through the middle from the pack.

On forty minutes a crunching tackle on Connor Jones left him seeing stars and he left the field to be replaced by Louis Dawkins. Rochford attacked again, hoping to find a way through and get the boys back in the game. With the ball moved out wide on a number of occasions only for covering defenders to make try saving tackles. Braintree also had their share of the ball and some sterling defending kept them from extending their lead. The Rochford forwards made a break for the line and formed a maul which got them over the try line, however the Braintree defence held up the maul and stopped Rochford from grounding the ball.

Jack Stickings took one hit too many two minutes from time and was replaced in the front row by the diminutive Joseph Cottam. The last play of the game was an uncontested scrum in the Braintree twenty two which Rochford could not get over the line.

This was a good performance from the boys with an improved defensive display after the scoring free-for-all on the first day of the season.

Reece Garstin was selected as Man of the Match for his leadership on the pitch.

Full time –Rochford 7 Braintree 19

Tries
Louis Dawkins

Conversions
Callum Stanley

1.James Mowle; 2.Chris Martin; 3.Jack Stickings; 4.Jack Cahill; 5.Jack Murphy; 6.Ethan Hepton; 7.Reece Garstin; 8.Austen King; 9.Callum Stanley; 10.Tom Harris; 11.Connor Jones; 12.Joseph Cottam; 13.Louis Dawkins; 14.James Cowland; 15.Liam Baker; 16.Jacob Wright; 17.Corey Lazell; 18.Robert Sheldrake