Rochford Hundred staged a stunning late fight back to force a 26-26 draw against Chelmsford, but they still slipped off the top of the table.

The men from Magnolia Road scored a try right at the death to salvage a share of the spoils from a topsy-turvy encounter.

Chelmsford started the better team and controlled the ball early on using the power of their forwards and releasing fast running backs.

From such use of this tactic they scored a fine try when their winger scorched over the line to open their account.

But Rochford repiled with flanker Darren Spencer bursting through to score under the posts and Tom Ashton converted.

Moments later, Hundred’s Nick Brown also went over for a try which Ashton converted to make it 14-5.

Chelmsford replied with two penalties and then began to impress at the start of the second half as their second row drove over for a try which was converted to put the visitors back in to the lead.

An unconverted try then extended their advantage to 26-14 with only 10 minutes of the match remaining.

However, Rochford refused to give up and Brown soon went over for his second try of the afternoon to make it 26-19 with only injury time remaining.

The home-side were still not finished though and, from an excellent scrum, number eight George Chipper drove over the line to score.

Ashton again added the extras to secure a draw, but Braintree’s 48-0 win over Beccles was enough to put them above Rochford on points difference at the top of the table. l Canvey ISLAND had no such difficulties as they rose to fifth in the standings with a 16-10 win at Old Streetonians.

After a tentative start from both sides, Streets stuck first with a penalty 10 minutes into the game.

But Canvey’s Lee Thorne levelled the score with a penalty of his own and the Islanders then went ahead with the best play of the game which resulted in a try from winger Charlie Clarke.

Streetonians hit back with another try but Canvey soon replied with another penalty from Thorne.

Canvey then pinned Streets in their 22 and, from a line-out Canvey’s forwards drove on, before scrum-half Brett Smith went over for a try which secured victory, much to the delight of club spokesman Joe Iespesh “Although we looked a bit rusty at times we deserved the points,” he said.”