Back to the League

The late withdrawals of Reece Gartsin, Jack Cahill and Reiss Sellwood due to illness and injury gave Gareth little cover in the forwards, but the return to fitness of Harrison McKenna and the late call up of Chris Martin eased our worries.

The front row started with Jack Stickings at tight-head prop, Joe Mitchell at hooker and Elliott Parsell at loose-head. Harrison McKenna and Jack Murphy started in the second row, Henry Willis started at openside flanker with Louis Dawkins at blindside and Chris Hastings at number 8. Liam Baker 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.

Rochford started the match with the wind in their faces but despite this it was Saffron Walden who were the most awake and the quickly made ground in the Rochford half. With the ball being recycled quickly Saffron Walden’s forwards decided to go route one and pressed down the middle. Several missed tackles later they opened the scoring. Not the ideal start but Rochford did respond well, playing much of the rest of the half in Saffron Walden territory. The boys probed the defensive line looking for a breakthrough. Both Jacob Wright and Aaron Cocks made distance down the wings but couldn’t convert the pressure into points, Corey Lazell with a run from full back tried a cheeky kick through a gap only for him to see the ball rebound off a defender. Jack Stickings, Chris Hastings and Jack Murphy all took on the defence but it held firm.

An intercepted pass gave Saffron Walden a break-through against the run of play to take them into the break 12 points up. They had clearly a well organised defence and made the most of the possession they had.

Half-time – Rochford 0 Saffron Walden 12

After the major reshuffle last week, Gareth made only a couple of changes at half time with Callum Stanley replacing Liam Baker at scrum half and Callum Blackman replacing Jacob Wright on the wing.

The second half continued as the first had finished with Rochford probing the Saffron Walden defence but not being able to convert pressure into points. Eventually Rochford did break the line. Corey Lazell, joining the attack at speed, broke a tackle and beat the fullback to the line and touch down under the posts. Joseph Cottam made no mistake with the conversion.

With Henry Willis taking a knock, James Mowle came at loose head with Elliott Parsell switching to tight head, Chris Hastings to flanker and Jack Stickings to number 8. The reshuffle did not unduly effect the balance of the pack and they continued to win their share of the scrums. Saffron Walden, having more of the possession, added to their score.

Joseph Cottam took a knock to the nose and was replaced by Liam Baker at outside centre and Chris Martin took over from Joe Mitchell at Hooker. The relentless pressure from Rochford began to tell and, as the team began to tire, Saffron Walden pressed again. A well worked move from the forwards saw them dive over for another score. With ten minutes left Jacob Wright replaced Aaron Cocks who had run himself into the ground. Despite all their efforts the boys were unable to add to their try and at the final whistle they understandably felt deflated.

Full time – Rochford 7 Saffron Walden 26

This was a disappointing result for the boys who had so much possession. When they can start turning pressure into territory and points they will be a very hard team to live with.

Tom Harris was chosen as Man of the Match for leading the line and dictating the play in the backs.

Tries
Corey Lazel

Conversions
Joseph Cottam

1, Elliott Parsell; 2, Joe Mitchell; 3, Jack Stickings; 4, Harrison McKenna; 5, Jack Murphy; 6, Henry Willis; 7, Louis Dawkins; 8, Chris Hastings; 9, Liam Baker; 10, Tom Harris; 11, Aaron Cocks; 12, Ethan Hepton; 13, Joseph Cottam; 14, Jacob Wright; 15, Corey Lazell; 16, Callum Blackman; 17, James Mowle; 18, Chris Martin; 19, Callum Stanley;