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After the heavy rain it was good to see that the pitches were in top condition meaning we could look forward to some attractive and expansive rugby. The day began well with the referee complimenting the team on all having proper studs. The first time he had seen that this season.

The front row started with Jack Stickings at tight-head prop, Joe Mitchell at hooker and James Mowle at loose head. Jack Cahill and Jack Murphy continued their second row partnership, Reece Garstin continued at open side flanker with Reiss Sellwood at blindside and Corey Lazell at number 8. Rob Sheldrake began at scrumhalf, Tom Harris at fly half, Ethan Hepton and Joseph Cottam at inside and outside centre with Aaron Cocks and Louie Dawkins on the wings. Callum Blackman completed the side at fullback.

Rochford began slowly and from the kick off failed deal with the high ball, putting themselves under pressure. Stanford, using their size and strength forced the ball over the line to open the scoring with their first attack. This provided a wake-up call for the Rochford boys and they began to take the fight back to Stanford. A series of phases saw Rochford make it into the Stanford twenty-two with Jack Stickings driving the ball forward, he was stopped a few feet from the line but with the Rochford ruck securing the ball, Reiss Sellwood was able to step round the blindside and force his way over the line.

Stanford regrouped and attacked again going through a number of phases before powering over the line to regain the lead. After 17 minutes an ankle injury to Rob Sheldrake saw him replaced by Callum Stanley at scrumhalf. Back came Rochford making their way into Stanford territory. After some even exchanges in the scrum, Rochford started to take control. With the pack shouting, “8,2,3,4” they shoved Stanford off their own ball. However it was Stanford who made the most of their possession and extended their lead with another drive over the line.

Rochford weren’t finished and began to attack again moving the ball down the left wing winning rucks and putting pressure on the Stanford line. Eventually, despite some last ditch defending by Stanford, Jack Stickings managed a drive with a half twist (Tom Daley take note) and found a square of defender free ground behind the line and bought Rochford back into the game.

Half-time – Stanford 15 Rochford 10

The second half started with Harrison McKenna replacing Jack Cahill in the second row but the one thing that didn’t change was the outcome of the scrums.

An attack by Rochford saw the ball make its way out to Aaron Cocks who took on the Stanford defence from just inside his own half. He side-stepped one, handed off another and despite the attention of a defender that had a hand full of shirt kept just inside the line and broke free, executing a perfect dive over the line with the ball in both hands (Chris Ashton please note). Stanford refused to crumble and came back again to score their fourth try, this time with a conversion, which was somewhat against the run of play.

With fifteen minutes left Louis Croll came on at fullback with Callum Blackman switching to the wing. Chris Martin came on at loose head and Daniel Harvey at blindside flanker and the scrum domination continued. Scrum after scrum was won by the Rochford pack who had put into practice their work in training to great effect. A series of scrums inside the Stanford twenty-two, all won by Rochford put the team in a great position and it was a pick and go by Corey Lazell that saw him bring Rochford within two points.

Stanford attacked again and made it to the Rochford line, directly under the posts but the defence held up the attacker and drove him back to the twenty-two to save what looked like a nailed on try. With Rochford only two points down and in their own twenty-two they needed something creative to get the ball up the pitch. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and Stanford capitalised on a scrappy move and scored their fifth try.

Full time – Stanford 27 Rochford 20

This was a great performance and the boys have a lot to be proud of despite the result. Although everyone played well and deserves mention it was in the scrum that we saw the standout performance. It is very rare that one side is so dominant.

Joe Mitchell was selected as Man of the Match for leading such a dominant scrum in winning so many against the head, and for his quality lineout ball against much taller opposition. As Gareth said, you can’t win that many scrums against the head and give the man of the match to someone outside the pack.

Tries
Reiss Sellwood
Jack Stickings
Aaron Cocks
Corey Lazell

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