ROCHFORD Hundred surged to the top of the London Two North East table after beating Holt 43-30 in a game of two conflicting halves.

Rochford trailed 13-12 at the break but fought back well to secure a ninth win in 10 games.

And that delighted their first team manager Graham Pratt.

“This was definitely a game of two halves but we were able to blow away a gutsy Holt side in the second half,” said Pratt.

“It was a real try scoring bonanza, with both teams supplying plenty of entertainment.

“We certainly struggled to overcome Holt in the first half and their kicker was excellent.

“But in the end we were worthy winners.

“It was a great team effort and puts us top of the league after defeats for Chelmsford and Norwich.”

However, victory was far from straight forward for Rochford as Holt opened the scoring with an early converted try after some slack play from the hosts.

Rochford hit back with a try of their own from impressive number eight, Scott Horsburgh but Holt went back in from with two well taken penalties from their powerful centre.

With play switching back to the other end of the field, Horsburgh bagged his second try of the game and Adam Ashton’s conversion cut Holt’s lead to just one point at the break.

But Holt extended their advantage with an intercepted try, which was also converted, at the start of the second half to put the visitors 20-12 in front.

Rochford replied with a try from prop forward from Scott Chivers but Holt continued to dig deep with their centre touching down once again to make it 25-17.

But that effort seemed to spark Rochford into life as they bagged four tries without reply.

Ashton scored the first of the efforts after gathering his own chipped kick forward before second row Ross Murphy also touched down.

Ashton converted both tries and then did likewise after scrum half Brett Smith had scored.

Acting captain Tom Corbet then finished off a fine move to score Rochford’s seventh try of the game.

But Holt were not to return home empty handed and bagged a late try to secure a try scoring bonus point.

Rochford Hundred: Mark,Chivers,Wiseman,Brooker,Murphy,Whight,Corbet,Horsburgh,Smith, Needham,White,Stemp,Stewart,Jon Baker,Ashton.

Replacements: Hughes,Spencer & Jack Baker

>BASILDON sunk to their fifth defeat in six games, losing 22-5 at home to Enfield Ignatians.

They remain 10th in the table, two places below South Woodham Ferrers who saw off bottom placed Old Cooperians 26-8 to end a run of three straight defeats.