Brentwood RFC
Match Report – Saturday 17 October 2009
Rochford 32 - Brentwood 34

Rochford has not been a happy hunting ground for Brentwood in recent seasons with the last away victory a distant memory. Both teams were promoted last season and have struggled to adjust to the higher tempo of rugby played in London One. Changes this week saw Sherwood coming in at hooker for Cadby, who reverted to the back row with Beith moving to scrum half. Stannard took Turner’s place at centre.

Brentwood kicked off with the advantage of the breeze and with the intent to put their poor record at Magnolia Road behind them. The home side had different ideas and immediately put the visitors under pressure. Brentwood lost the ball in the tackle and a missed tackle saw Rochford score after 2 minutes for a 7-0 lead. Worse was to come as more missed tackles allowed a further home try – 12-0 after 7 minutes!
The next quarter of an hour saw both sides make a number of handling errors and, with the referee’s whistle prominent as he penalised every marginal technical error, the game stagnated. After 22 minutes Rochford were penalised for crossing and Chambers put the visitors on the board with a penalty – 12-3. From the kick off Rochford won a penalty which was converted to restore their 12 point lead.

Brentwood were struggling to get any continuity into their running game due to some basic handling errors. The forwards, however, were gaining an advantage over the home pack and after 35 minutes drove Rochford off the ball for Beith to score a try which was unconverted – 15-8. Within 5 minutes Brentwood allowed their scrum to be wheeled and the Rochford Number 8 walked through the gap to score a simple try. The conversion took the home side to a 22-8 lead at half time.

Despite the points difference Brentwood had showed good play in patches and the first score of the second half was critical. The visitors remained unable to take advantage of their possession and Rochford took advantage with a penalty and converted try to move into a 32-8 lead with 25 minutes remaining. The tempo and physicality of the game were taking their toll and a period of unopposed scrums depowered Brentwood’s strongest area. With the front rows restored the visitors cranked up the pressure in the scrummage and a sharp move down the left touchline saw Cowen score an unconverted try – 32-13 with 20 minutes left.

The Brentwood backline had now gelled and good hands saw Lloyd score from the right wing with Chambers converting to reduce the deficit to 32-20 with 10 minutes left. A scoring opportunity went begging when the visitors dropped the ball with the line at their mercy. Beith then ran a quick penalty for Stannard to score a try which Chambers converted to make the score 32-27 with 5 minutes to go.

The confidence and impetus of the visitors was now high and, after a period of Rochford pressure, the Brentwood forwards drove the ball downfield and from a 5 metre line out Northall scored to level the scores. With the last kick of the game Chambers converted from the touchline to give Brentwood the victory by 34 points to 32.

A gutsy performance with Metcalfe, Beith and Sherwood prominent but the Man of the Match award went to captain Tom King. Brentwood now need to maintain this intensity in the weeks ahead.

Team:
Northall, Sherwood, Bevans-Royston, Killington, Woodcock, Metcalfe, Cadby, King, Beith, Chambers, Lloyd, Stannard, Wyatt, Cowen, Green.
Next week sees Brentwood away at Stevenage in a London Division One (North) league fixture.