Rochford started the second half of their season on a low note when they succumbed to a well-organised Chingford at Magnolia Road.

It looked as if it would be Rochford's day as they laid into Chingford from the start with wave after wave of good attacking play resulting from consistent recycled ball.

Both forwards and backs combined well but stout defending saw Chingford survive the onslaught and gradually fought their way back into the game. to take an 11-0 half-time lead.

Just after the start of the second-half Chingford caught the home side napping with a quickly taken short penalty and their influential scrum half darted through the Rochford defence for a converted try.

Play had become rather scrappy and Rochford's forwards kept hammering away with good driving from Matt Norris, Lee Sullivan and Kenton Avis and others which was eventually rewarded when second row Simon Broad went over for a try which Matt Barber duly converted.

Rochford found it difficult to move the ball to their speedy wingers and Chingford scored another five points before stand off Tom Ashton finished off a well worked move which Barber converted.

With the score at 14-23 the match was poised for a grand stand finish but it then all went wrong for Rochford as the visitors took full advantage of lapses of concentration and fitness to run in three tries, two of which they converted to finish deserved winners on the day.

Published Tuesday, January 21, 2003

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