ROCHFORD Hundred finished their London Two North East season in eighth place after suffering a 59-36 defeat at champions Diss on the final day of the campaign.

Rochford had been hoping to spring a surprise in their final league encounter of the season.

But Hundred’s first team manager Graham Pratt was still full of praise for his side’s spirited performance which he felt was their best of the season.

“Diss were confirmed as well deserved champions but they knew they had been pushed all the way by our much improved side who probably saved the best performance of the season for this game,” said Pratt.

“Well done to all the squad for all the hard work and really giving it everything in the last league outing.

“We are all really proud of the way they played and the class they showed too.

“In the end Diss showed why they have dominated this league with their superior finishing and support play but they had to fight very hard to win this one.

“The score-line does not reflect the full story of this terrific,competitive and fine quality match where Rochford took the game to their high flying opponents and scored six tries in the process.”

Rochford - who face Romford and Gidea Park in the Essex Cup final later this month - found themselves 5-0 down early on before hooker Scott Turner scored twice in quick succession to put the visitors 12-5 ahead.

Diss hit back to level the scores before pulling away with two more converted tries before Rochford full-back Mark Billings guided through to bag another try.

Despite his fine effort, Diss led 33-17 at the break and soon extended their lead with another converted try.

However, Rochford replied with Nik Grier and Tom Corbet both bagging tries and Matt Stewart adding a conversion to cut the home-side’s advantage to 40-29.

Diss scored again before Billings scored his second try of the afternoon which was again converted by Stewart.

But Diss scored twice in the closing stages to seal victory in an entertaining encounter.

Rochford Hundred: Mark, Turner, Wiseman, Whight, Knowles, Grier, Corbet, Warner, Pickering, Jay, Edwards, Dieu-De-Bellefontaine, Stewart, White, Billings Replacements: Levy, Bacon & Marshall