Victory gives Basildon Rugby Club derby bragging rights over Rochford Hundred (From Echo)

Victory gives Basildon Rugby Club derby bragging rights over Rochford Hundred

4:00pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

BASILDON recorded a 25-20 triumph over Rochford Hundred in a crunch London One North local derby on Saturday.

Both sides went into the game having triumphed just once in seven outings.

But it was Basildon who got back to winning ways with a determined display at Magnolia Road.

They went in front inside the first minute with a try from Lee Randall, which was converted by Brad Johnson.

Rochford hit back with a penalty from Dan Needham before Basildon went further ahead with a try from full-back Nick Howard, which went unconverted.

However, a try from Rochford’s Laurie Cooke and the subsequent Needham conversion cut Basildon’s lead to 12-10 at half-time.

Rochford remained on top at the start of the second half, with Cooke running in his second try to put his side ahead for the first time before having to go off injured.

Hundred’s lead was short-lived however as Basildon’s scrum half Chippy White took the ball over the line and Johnson converted to make it 19-15.

Rochford soon responded with their replacement winger Sam Barnes diving over to make it 20-19 to the home side.

But Basildon had the final say and secured victory when, after some persistent forward play on the hosts’ five-metre line, Luke Crowhurst charged through and Johnson added the extras to seal the win.

The victory pushed Basildon up to 10th and out of the relegation zone, while also pushing Rochford to the foot of the table.

And that disappointed Hundred’s first team manager Graham Pratt.

“As in previous weeks too many basic errors and poor handling let us down and the frustration of some refereeing decisions did not help the cause either,” said Pratt.

“The side know that their play is not good enough at present and they must address team discipline issues as well as finding some cohesion over the coming weeks, otherwise they will find it is going to be a very long and hard season.

“Basildon deserved to win and I thought we flattered to deceive.

“It was a disjointed performance and it’s disappointing because we have the potential to be so much better.”