ROCHFORD Hundred stayed top of the London Three North East table with a 29-11 win over Mersea Island on Saturday. Mersea started with all guns blazing using their massive pack to win ball for their backs to apply early pressure and within a few minutes were five points up.

The try was well deserved after some fierce Mersea approach work which left Rochford thinking deeply that they had a game on their hands.

But Hundred soon responded with some pressure play of their own through some quick ball work and Mersea conceded a penalty which fly-half Tom Ashton slotted over to reduce the deficit. However Mersea responded with a penalty of their own.

The home team were winning good ball from the line-out where the ever dominant Ryan Stephenson remained supreme, ably assisted by George Chipper at the back and Bradley Day at the front. Another Ashton penalty brought the home side to only 8-6 down at the break.

Ashton edged his side in front with another well struck penalty kick before wing Greg Stubbs sliced through Mersea’s defence to the line.

Ashton converted and Rochford settled down and started to play some good rugby. Mersea still were dangerous and a further penalty kick reduced the score to 16 – 11.

Two more Ashton penalties punished Mersea who had resorted to trying to disrupt Rochford at any cost, much to the disapproval of the referee.

The icing on the cake came when wing Matt Stewart finished off a fast flowing move to run in under the posts for the excellent Ashton to convert and take his points haul to 19 for the match.

Rochford are two points clear of second-placed Sudbury but Thurrock slipped to seventh after losing 37-11 at Romford and Gidea Park.