ROCHFORD Hundred handed table-topping Diss their first defeat of the season at Magnolia Road on Saturday.

Rochford headed into the game on the back of a 20-10 defeat at second from bottom Ipswich.

But they roared back to winning ways with a shock 18-13 triumph which brought a smile back to the face of Hundred’s first team manager Graham Pratt.

“It was a terrific morale booster for the boys who deserved their victory against a quality side,” said Pratt.

“The team knew they had to step-up to the mark if they wanted to come away with a good result against their old rivals and that is just what they did.”

Due to injuries and unavailabilities, Rochford’s head coach Michael Guess played his first game of the season.

However, Diss have a big, strong forward unit and from the off they started to apply pressure and anchored themselves in the Rochford half for the majority of the opening 40 minutes.

But, in spite of all their efforts, the visitors only came away with one unconverted try due to Rochford’s well-disciplined defence.

And, after soaking up the spell of pressure, the hosts hit back on the stroke of half-time when a fine piece of individual skill by Matt Stewart saw him take the ball and run at the defence.

The stand-off then floated a delicate kick over their heads before gathering the ball and scoring under the posts.

Simon Ashton added the conversion to put Hundred 7-5 ahead at half-time before he also kicked a penalty at the start of the second period.

With the home-side remaining on top, Brett Smith – who moved from centre into the back row at the weekend – forced his way over for a try which made it 15-5 Diss replied with a try of their own and then another a penalty to cut Rochford’s lead to just two points.

But Hundred held firm and made sure of the victory with another penalty from Ashton late on as they moved up to sixth in the table.

Rochford Hundred: Guess,Mark,Bass,Tape,Wheeler,Bacon,Warner,Chipper,Gould, Stewart,White,Smith,Edwards,Marshall,Ashton

Replacements: Wiseman,Needham & Baker

>SOUTH Woodham Ferrers slipped to seventh in the table after suffering a 31-7 defeat at second placed Sudbury.

It was also another bad day for rock bottom Basildon as they were seen off 39-7 at home to Holt.

Basildon have now all eight of their matches this season.