Jekyll and Hyde performance

Scrums Billericay 5 Rochford Hundred 10 (2 against the head)
Penalties 0-3
Line outs 2-3

As we move into the Halloween season perhaps it was apt that Rochford Hundred U14 would produce a Jekyll and Hyde performance that the Victorian author R.L.Stevenson could have wrote. In a game played in the sun we spent most of the first half chasing shadows and mainly camped in our own 22, as we appeared over run mainly by two Billericay lads who had pace, power and the belief we didn't, with the score racking up and up (46-5 at half time) our boys looked quiet, bemused and embarrassed, what was disturbing as the stats show again we were winning most scrums but still getting turned over again and again.

Even the try we scored was by a loaned Billericay player who decided to come out of the shadow and smash his way through what we thought was a fragile line. Most players could show glimpses but as a team effort it was not.

The Metamorphosis in the second half was born from the half time talk where again many of our young boys took responsibility and acted like the young men that they are destined to become. Within three minutes of the resume we had won our first turn over of the ball. Were as in the First half we lost shape , rhythm most of the Rucks and Mauls now we were winning them.

What was not happening in the last twenty minutes of training on Wednesday and in the first half was banished and the forwards and backs became cohesive and we were in a game, Billericay even began to sing to us like our last match as we camped in there half and took turns run. When Billericay had the ball we tackled, we tackled hard and we tackled toe to toe, man for man. The teams body language had changed in full.

It was no surprise that Darcie and Monkey scored tries, what was surprising is that we didn't score more. The last ten minutes being another gear up again, were our boys played as a team with crisp passing, passion and speed, the last five tries were won on the trot and every time we had the ball looked like scoring, Billericay were even kicking the ball to clear but it only lead to another attack.

Very impressive mentions for all our players today as well as those who came injured to watch , but well done to Danny who captained through difficult circumstances, Dalton and Nathan(man of the match) who both gave great performances, Ethan and Sam of whom I have to say that his performances are starting to match his cleverness.

I personally enjoy our visits to Billericay, they are a terrific club and the four boys they loaned us today were a huge credit to there team and families and last few minutes I heard one of there youngsters demand the ball not be kicked out. "Keep the game going"

Certainly progress is being made, and despite the first half, this is so much more enjoyable than last season, I was so excited in the last ten minutes that I lost my pen!, Its great to see more and more of the team taking leadership roles, talk more and think carefully under pressure.