12:02pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
Westcliff got back on the winning trail at Rochford Hundred but the hosts made things extremely difficult at times in a keenly-contested local derby.
Promotion-pushing Westcliff eventually triumphed 19-8.
But they were forced to dig deep for the win.
“We were up for this one as it is a local derby and Rochford really wanted to dent our record,” said Westcliff press officer Geoff Sawyer.
“The boys knew they were in a game and there were a few sin-binnings on both sides.
“Rochford did not completely shut us down but their defence certainly stopped at least two tries and the ball going to ground cost us two more.”
The early pressure was from Westcliff but the home side kept them out.
Rochford had their turn but they too met stern defence.
The game was 14 minutes old when Ben McKeith was given his first chance at a penalty.
He successfully slotted it over and five minutes later doubled the lead with his second shot.
Both sides tried things and both sides gained no reward and it was not until the 38th minute that more points went on the board and again they were from the boot of McKeith.
Westcliff proved stronger in the scrum and pushed Rochford back on a few occasions.
Several times they got a rolling maul going and gained much ground through it.
Just before the break Westcliff winger Paul Radley was away heading for the corner but the Rochford defence got across and a superb tackle put him in touch centimetres short of the line.
Early in the second half Rochford got on the scoreboard with a penalty but then Westcliff came back hard and Scott Gregory was held up just short of the line.
The ball was grassed during another promising attack and then Rochford gave hope to their supporters with an excellent try which went unconverted but narrowed the score to 9-8.
However Ben McKeith was on target again a few minutes later to make it 12-8 with a penalty.
Rochford’s full back put in some brilliant defending including one clearing kick while facing his own line.
Westcliff’s pack were now shoving Rochford back and Simon Jones was taking good possession all the time from the line out.
At last Westcliff found a way through the Rochford defence and colt Jack Jones finished off a move with an excellent try.
McKeith’s conversion put Westcliff out of reach at 19-8 and there was no time for much more action before the final whistle.
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