Rugby or Waterpolo?

Currently second in division 1 and playing their strongest side, this was going to need the boys to play out of their skins. To add to the mix, Chris Martin was unable to play due to illness and the predicted heavy rain held off just long enough to avoid the match being postponed but then came down in sheets almost from the kick-off.

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 openside flanker with Reiss Sellwood at blindside and Corey Lazell 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 Louie Dawkins on the wings. Louis Croll completed the side at full-back.

The match began at an incredible pace and some crunching tackles were made by both sides as they looked for a weakness to exploit. With both sides moving the ball wide and using their pace well the play moved back and forth with the quality of the tackling and rucking from both sides meaning that it was difficult for either side to threaten their opponents try line. A hand injury to Jack Cahill saw him replaced in the second row by Harrison McKenna.

The battle commenced and both sides had a share of the spoils at the scrums with the ball moving through to the scrum half at lightening speed. A knock to the ribs ended Jack Sticking’s game in the fifteenth minute and Harrison McKenna replaced him in the front row with a recovered Jack Cahill returning to the second row. Eventually it was the pressure from Westcliff that caused the breakthrough and the game opened up.

Half-time – Westcliff 38 Rochford 0

The second half started with Daniel Harvey replacing Reiss Sellwood on the blindside, Jacob Wright on for Louis Dawkins on the wing, Callum Blackman on for Louis Croll at full back and Rob Sheldrake on for Callum Stanley at Scrum Half.

With the rain now making the pitch a bog and ball control difficult both sets of boys continued to play attractive rugby but it was Westcliff who continued to find the gaps that eluded Rochford and the score continued to increase. With the referee’s offer to end the match politely but firmly refused, Rochford upped their game and began to put pressure on the Westcliff back line. Tackles were flying in from all directions with mismatches seeing Joseph Cottam and Joe Mitchell bringing down the largest Westcliff boys.

Another attack from Rochford saw a good combination of passes which ended with Aaron Cocks bursting through a gap in the middle of the pitch, just outside the Westcliff ten metre line to outpace two defenders and touch down under the posts to give Rochford a well deserved try. In normal circumstances the kick would have been considered easy but the driving rain and a strong crosswind made this a tough ask. Joseph Cottam calmly slotted over the conversion.

Full time – Westcliff 68 Rochford 7

While Westcliff were the stronger side and dealt with the conditions better this was a performance the boys can be proud of. The Westcliff head coach complimented the boys on the progress they had made in the last year and suggested that the opening exchanges convinced him that nothing else but his strongest side would do. Westcliff now face Upminster away in the quarter-finals.

Tries
Aaron Cocks

Conversions
Joseph Cottam

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, Callum Stanley; 10, Tom Harris; 11, Aaron Cocks; 12, Ethan Hepton; 13, Joseph Cottam; 14, Louis Dawkins; 15, Louis Croll; 16, Rob Sheldrake; 17,Harrison McKenna; 18, Jacob Wright; 19, Daniel Harvey; 20, Callum Blackman