Basildon vs. Rochford U11s, 23rd October 2011

Again short of players (10 this time) but Basildon were kind enough to lend us some players to make up the numbers and to their credit the players did far more than that.

Last season Rochford looked like they hadn’t played the game before and certainly didn’t know who their team mates were. This year was a vast improvement and the team began to pass along the line, hold their positions and support each other. It only took a few minutes for Rochford to lose a player. Stuck at the bottom of one of the first rucks Christopher Martin was caught on the knee by a Basildon stud and lost a chunk of skin from the knee-cap. The Under 11s are lucky enough to have two nurses and a paramedic among their parents and special thanks must go to Michelle Hastings who was on hand to clean and dress the wound.

The first half turned into the usual no holds barred battle with good defence from both sides stifling any attacks and the first half ended scoreless.

Basildon were first to score early on in the second half using their superior size to force through the Rochford line and touch down. The missed conversion clearly helped keep the Rochford spirits up and a break from Christopher Hastings saw him break through two tackles and touch down to equalise. Ben Cannon slotted over the conversion and Rochford were in front.

The mid-field battle continued and as Rochford began to press the Basildon defensive line a counter attack from a loose ball saw them go back in front. The second missed conversion kept the game alive until the end but Rochford were unable to add to their score.

Final score. Basildon 10 – 7 Rochford