An Economic Performance

If the chancellor was giving credit to Rugby Tackles, Ruck, Mauls and support play Rochford 100 U14 would have lifted the economy today with a performance that will live long in the memory with a game, that had very few scrums but perfect rugby conditions.

With 3 players away we had a bare 15 against a team that had 7 substitutes at kick off I wondered about stamina but Epping were the team that looked tired and ragged at the end. I've listed the team as in my opinion today was finest team performance this season, that was a high water mark (except for the first 9 mins of the second half).Every one of our players put in an astonishing amount of work in which in tackles and desire for the ball posted an all time high.

A very tight affair our opponents capitalised on their phases of play to score two well earned tries on the only two mistakes we made in the half, our impressive tackling (just under 60 ) included support play a solid line and hunger to get forward, Omar scored a great try dancing past a couple of defenders and we finished the half baring down on our opponents whom held the ball up and defended extremely well.

A nine minute flashback at the start of the second half to darker times then ensued where our opponents racked up three tries without any tackles from ourselves and We looked like we facing severe Rugby austerity.The third try of the half being quite horrific as we failed to press from a decent kick and the Epping lad ran from his own 25 to score...awful.

Full credit to the boys they didn't drop there heads and we began our game again, after pressing on there 25 we scored a great try after a clearance was collected by Conor who took the ball in after skipping past two players and gave a super off load to Mihi who carved open their defence to score a superb try. It was fair to say that the final 10-15 minutes we ran our opponents ragged with runs , Epping holding the the ball up and with a bit of luck and wide play the score could have been a lot lot closer.

Matt & Nick along with all the forwards pushed so so close and the surprise was we only scored one more try from a very deserving Nathan. Captains performance from Luke today and a deserved man of the match. The team appeared galvanised and focused and supporting each other, at the end I was surrounded by Epping substitutes they informed me what a hard game they thought it was.Today was a great team effort and testimony to how far we have come,

Final Score: Rochford 19-42 Epping

Scrum. 3-3 (all to head)
Line Out. 1-4
Penalties. 2-4

Yards
1 half. 255
2half. 190

Team- FR-Nathan,Sam,Mihi, 2R Matt,Brandon, (8) Luke Capt., Flankers- Nick Malikay
Scrum half Darcy, FH, Danny, Omar, Ethan,George, Lewis. FB Conor

Tackles
Matt 10%
Omar. 9%
Danny. 9%
Malikay. 8%
Darcy 8%
Luke. 8%
Sam. 7%
Brandon. 7%

Tries- Omar, Mihi, Nathan
Conversation- Conor x2