UNBEATEN Rochford Hundred made it 12 league wins in a row with a 57-13 win at Chelmsford.

The victory kept Rochford five points clear at the top of the London Two North East table.

But Hundred’s first team manager Graham Pratt felt the game was far closer than the final scoreline suggested.

“It sounds as though it was all one-way traffic but that was not the case as Chelmsford played well to stop us from scoring more tries and never gave up the fight,” said Pratt.

“We made it hard for ourselves by making basic errors and lacked cohesion at times and on their own admission the players know that they can do a great deal better.

“With the Christmas break ahead and the next game at home against Ipswich on January 6 they know that they are going to have to hit the ground running and I am sure that their coaches will make sure they do.

“An exciting second half of the season is to come and a big thank you to this talented team for providing such entertainment and success so far.”

Rochford opened the scoring with a try from prop forward Lewis Brunger - a new signing - who drove over the line to ground the ball.

Moments later, Rochford extended their lead with winger Sam Edwards finishing off a pacy move for a try which Tom Ashton converted.

Edwards soon added another try after some fine approach play from Ben Johnson but Chelmsford fought back to score a try of their own.

However, Rochford finished the half strongly with a well-taken Adam Ferrier try putting them 22-8 ahead at the break.

At the start of the second half, Johnson touched down after a powerful run before Ferrier scored for the second time.

Ashton added the conversion and Hundred soon went further ahead with scrum-half Ricki Gould diving over before top try scorer Mark Billings completed the scoring with another fine effort.

The win keeps Rochford five points clear of second placed Wanstead.

Rochford Hundred: Billings, Edwards, Stewart, Johnson, Bennett, Ashton, Gould, Brunger, Ferrier, Wiseman, Court-Rhind, Fombo, Whatling, Rufai, Kellard.

Replacements: Strachan, Allison & Jay