After losing to Saffron Walden in the last round of matches, Rochford were drawn against Chingford who had lost to Basildon. With half term and injury still denying Gareth a full squad to choose from, 19 boys, including Daniel Harvey making a welcome return from illness, made their way to Towie country.

The front row started with Jack Stickings at tight-head prop, Chris Martin at hooker and Daniel House at loose-head. Jack Murphy and Jack Cahill started in the second row, Reece Garstin at openside flanker with Austen King at blindside and Henry Willis at number 8. Liam Baker began at scrum-half, Louis Croll at fly-half, Luke Hudson started at inside centre and Reiss Sellwood at outside centre with Jacob Wright and Callum Blackman on the wings. Corey Lazell lined up as usual at full-back.

Rochford received the kick-off and immediately began to push into the Chingford half. Working the ball wide to use the open spaces as Chingford committed men to the rucks. With Rochford moving into the Chingford half, the ball secured at a ruck, Liam Baker picked out Henry Willis who broke a tackle and headed for the line. With the Chingford end covered with fallen leaves it was hard for Henry to pick out the try line. He dived early, five metres early, but his momentum combined with the damp surface saw him slide over the try line. The referee correctly ruling that it had been one movement.

Rochford continued press and began to work through the phases, driving deep into the Chingford half. With the forwards and backs prepared to put in some hard graft they went through the phases working their way into the Chingford twenty-two and towards the try line. The ball secured at a ruck, Reiss Sellwood saw a gap and his pick-and-go and dive for the line saw him score Rochford’s second try. Liam Baker successfully converted.

With Chingford holding Rochford on half way the ball and working the ball wide themselves they pushed into the Rochford twenty-two and to the five metre line. Working through the phases to look for a gap. But the Rochford defence held firm and securing the ball a clearing kick pushed Chingford back to halfway. To rub salt into the wound Rochford secured the ball and worked it out to the left where Henry Willis broke free to score his second try, directly under the posts. Liam Baker scored his second conversion.

Half-time – Chingford 0 Rochford 19

Gareth made just one change at half time with Joseph Cottam replacing Callum Blackman. The second half began as the first had finished with both sides making good use of the space out wide but with Rochford just edging the early exchanges.

Five minutes into the half Gareth shuffled his pack with James Mowle coming on into the front row, Dan Harvey the second row and James Cowland coming on to play flanker. Rochford continued to attack with a great combination between James Cowland and Joseph Cottam down the left to make good ground into the Chingford half. Eventually the massed Chingford defence pushed Rochford into touch to relieve the pressure.

A clearing kick from inside the Chingford five metre line was sliced out to the right wing where Jacob Wright was quick with both his head and his feet, anticipating the bounce and collecting the ball, shrugging off two defenders and racing for the corner to score Rochford’s fourth.

As the half continued to swing one way and then the other without seriously threatening either try line, Rochford moved into the Chingford half looking for a gap to try and exploit to keep the score tickling over. A combination of moves from the forwards saw Chingford over commit in the tackle and leave the space Rochford had been looking for. Henry Willis broke through to score his third try of the game which was successfully converted by Joseph Cottam.

From another secured ruck, just inside the Chingford half, Jack Cahill decided to pick and go, and go he did. Fending off defender after defender, Jack headed for the far corner of the pitch, using his speed and strength to make it into the corner to score Rochford’s sixth try of the game. In his dive for the line Jack Cahill had fallen awkwardly and jarred his thumb so was replaced by Jack Murphy.

With the clock ticking down, Chingford pressed into the Rochford half winning a scrum and then a series of penalties, the last of which was on Rochford’s five metre line. Chingford took it quickly and caught Rochford unprepared forcing the ball over the line to get themselves on the scoresheet. The last play of the match saw Chingford make a break and, with Rochford seemingly unable to make a tackle, they scored under the posts and secured the conversion.

Full time –Chingford 12 Rochford 36

This was a tough match and the deserved late scores by Chingford made the final score a better reflection of the match. It is clear from the game that the boys are working so hard and have improved so much that it’s getting almost impossible to work out what our strongest fifteen is. With Billericay unable to field a side for their match it means that the boys will face Woodford in the next round of matches.

Henry Willis and Jacob Wright shared the man of the match honours, Henry for his hard work at the breakdown and a hat-trick of tries and Jacob for his hard work in defence and yet another well taken try, keeping his record of a try in every game.

Tries
Henry Willis 3
Reiss Sellwood
Jacob Wright
Jack Cahill

Conversions
Liam Baker 2
Joseph Cottam

1, Daniel House; 2, Chris Martin; 3, Jack Stickings; 4, Jack Murphy; 5, Jack Cahill; 6, Austen King; 7, Reece Garstin; 8, Henry Willis; 9, Liam Baker; 10, Louis Croll; 11, Callum Blackman; 12, Luke Hudson; 13, Reiss Sellwood; 14, Jacob Wright; 15, Corey Lazell; 16, Daniel Harvey; 17, James Mowle; 18, James Cowland; 19, Joseph Cottam

Rochford Hundred Rugby Club

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