Rochford Hundred beaten by Old Haberdashers (From Echo)

Rochford Hundred beaten by Old Haberdashers

1:55pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport

ROCHFORD Hundred suffered a 19-14 defeat at Old Haberdashers.

The men from Magnolia Road enjoyed sustained periods of pressure during the game.

But they were still unable to come out on top, much to the frustration of first team manager Graham Pratt.

“We had some very good play but again basic errors and poor decision making stopped us getting the rewards our efforts deserve,” said Pratt.

“It will come with every player putting in that little bit extra and with new signings and others who will make their mark as the season progresses.”

Rochford were initially on top but Haberdashers kept their heads and were soon rewarded with a try.

This was produced by playing the ball through their well organised pack who drove through a fragile Rochford defence to power over.

A penalty kick soon made it 8-0 but Hundred hit back with flanker Liam Searle scoring a well taken try which full-back Dan Needham converted.

Rochford continued to attack but it was the hosts who scored next when a forceful driving maul from their forwards resulted in another try just before the break.

That put Haberdashers 13-7 in front and two quick penalties then made it 19-7.

Rochford replied with a number of good moves and finally crossed the line when James Needham finished off an exciting piece of play which his brother Dan converted.

With the score at 19-14 with 15 minutes to go it was poised to go either way and Rochford had their tails up.

They threw everything at the Haberdashers line but good defence and some slack finishing allowed the home side off the hook.

In the last few frantic minutes Rochford then had to defend themselves and just managed to keep their opponents at bay as the final whistle blew.

But Rochford now sit just one place and two points above the relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s Essex derby against Brentwood.

Rochford: Rowe, Corbet, Coombe, Stephenson, Knowles, Searle, Whight, Needham, Bracknell, O’Connor, Prior, Brown, Stewart, Levy, Needham

Replacements: Rodriguez, Dorrington, Ventress.