Hair of the Dog

Watching the training on Wednesday ,after the lateness in the lights going on and at about 25 past seven I'd started to wonder if the season actually ended last Sunday v Chingford such was the hang-over from our last outing. But by quarter past eight there was a carthartic element to the boys who where in full throw and they had seemed to have turned it all around.

As I was walking to our home ground this morning the foul weather seemed long gone, I could hear a Woodpecker in the distance, Spring was in the air and life seemed good, Burnham are a very similar club to ourselves, they have struggled with numbers, have some quality players but can leave there best performances on the training ground.So it was about if we and our opponents could turn up.

Full credit to the Burnham 8 who made it half term holidays and a few injuries have depleted their squad so we made it 12 a side with a 3 man scrum, but as our structure around defensive line has been a distinct weakness increasing as play and phases increase so more space might have been a nemesis.

In general today's game was distinctly different from all our games we have played previously, the lowest penalties and scrums levels point to game low in mistakes, which it was but the speed was impressive,I know this as I struggled to keep up with my notes, they became briefer and I think I developed some kind of repetitive strain injury as I had to write Ruck and Maul so many times.Also when I looked up I constantly seemed to miss twenty yards!

Six of our boys shared haves and played for Burnham and what a performance they gave, it's always a very positive sign when they step up. Full marks for Brandon and Matt who scored for Burnham, Freddie also went close.

After going into a 12-0 lead, we conspired to watch Burnham pile pressure and after some great defensive play with two hold ups( our opponents go over the line but can't ground it) we then conceded two and the game was level, I did have a Chingford flashback at this point and despite the fine wether I was convinced it would snow .....fortunately we scored with the last play of the half.

What was pleasing with all six of our tries was that they all flowed from constructive play,rather than unforced errors, with Darcie getting the best of the bunch after some very crisp passing we sliced open there defence at speed and scored, we started the second half as strong as we finished the first.

In fairness the game was played more in our half than Burnham, but it was great to see our players doing some fine attacking play, I personally enjoyed Brandon scoring for Burnham , I couldn't work out if he wanted a protractor to ensure he had got it exactly in the middle of the posts, or was waiting for another couple of players to try and tackle him!

Loius can count himself very unlucky where twice he was in, he also he plays to such a high consistency of being in the right place all the time. Dalton put in a huge tackle shift and got a try for his hard work.

Top marks to everyone man of the match could really have been anyone and I'm sorry I can't mention everyone,Brandon got the nudge but my abiding memory was the buzzing atmosphere after the game, very similar to Billericay and Woodford all our boys were smiling chatting in the changing room , all young and carefree .... as it should be

Rochford 43-19 Burnham

Scrums
Burnham 5-3 non contested
Line out
Burnham 3-2
Penalties
Burnham 4-2

Tackles
Dalton 20%
Nathan 10%
Danny 7%
Matt. 7%
Nick. 7%
Ethan. 7%
George. 7%
Conor. 7%
Darcie. 7%

Tries
Nathan 3
Danny
Darcie
Dalton

Plus
Brandon(2)
Matt

Conversions
Conor. 4/6

Yards 1st half. 150
2nd half. 240