ROCHFORD Hundred slumped to a 17-13 defeat at home to Campion in London Two North East.

A late try secured victory for the 14 man visitors at Magnolia Road.

And that left Rochford’s first team manager Graham Pratt gutted at the end of the game.

“Sickening is the only word to describe the general feeling,” said Pratt.

“But the team have only themselves to blame as they should have closed the game down in those final important minutes and victory would have been ours.

“Take nothing away from Campion though as they had enough belief in their ability to keep pushing for the breakthrough and I suppose in the end it is why they are such a good side.”

Third placed Campion opened the scoring with a penalty-kick before Rochford stand-off Adam Ashton levelled the scores with one of his own.

Campion soon replied with a converted try and remained 10-3 ahead at half-time.

The second period was much better for Rochford as they increased the tempo of their game and put pressure on their opponents who did well to keep them out.

However, Rochford finally broke through when leading their leading try scorer – scrum half Brett Smith – dived over and Ashton’s conversion made it 10-10.

Ashton soon put the hosts ahead with another penalty and the rest of the match was a no thrills struggle with both sides fighting it out as many big tackles were made.

Rochford remained in front heading in to the final 10 minutes when Campion lost a player through a yellow card and a little later lost another one sent off.

Down to 13 men the visitors were really up against it but Rochford contrived to make it easier for them, giving away a couple of penalties .

One Campion player returned during the last three minutes but they were still down to 14 men as the game headed in to stoppage time.

But Rochford were unable to keep them out, as the Romford based side secured possession from a line-out before driving over to score a try which was also converted to seal what had seemed an unlikely victory.

The defeat also pushed Rochford down from fourth to six in the standings.

Rochford Hundred: Mark,Chivers,Wiseman,Tape,Knowles,Corbet,Warner,Murphy, Smith,Ashton,Jack Baker,Stemp,Stewart,White,Jon Baker

Replacements: Bass,Illingworth & Tusini