Birth Certificates Please!

From the kick off Brentwood were immediately under huge pressure from Rochford who were visibly very up for the game. After a Rochford break which took them deep into the 22 Brentwood conceded a penalty and Rochford opted to kick for the posts. Brentwood were let off the hook as the kick was missed however they then piled the pressure straight back on themselves by allowing Rochford to charge down the 22 drop out. Fortunately Brentwood’s forwards came to the rescue, winning the resulting scrum against the head.
The Rochford pressure still continued though with Roland Johnson putting in a thumping try saving tackle into touch. This seemed to be the catalyst for Brentwood to shift up a gear and not long after Jake Eagleton made a break and passed to Sam Morgan who continued the strong running. When he was eventually tackled the ball was recycled quickly and Jake went in under the posts. Adam Mathias was on target with the conversion, 7-0 Brentwood.
Soon after from a Brentwood scrum the ball was spun out to Adam and then to William Bassenger (who for some reason was lurking on the wing!). He threw a lovely pass to Joel Ison who proceeded to score one of the individual tries of the season, cutting a beautiful line and beating three defenders to score under the posts. Adam converted and it was 14-0.
From the restart Chris Doble caught the ball at pace and somehow made an 80 metre dash down the touchline without a hand being laid on him to score near the corner. Adam’s conversion had the accuracy but not the legs, 19-0 Brentwood.
Right at the end of the half after more good work from Sam Morgan and Jake, Sam Fry made a great run to break two tackles and score in the corner. Adam’s conversion from the same spot again was just short but despite the entire first quarter belonging to Rochford, Brentwood were 24-0 up at half time.
The second half began with play mainly in the middle of the pitch with fierce battling from both teams but some pressure from Brentwood resulted in a well deserved try from Matt Gray. Adam kicked the conversion and it was 31-0 to Brentwood. Chris McCarthy made a strong run and a nice offload to Matt Gray but Brentwood conceded a penalty. The Brentwood pressure continued though as from the penalty Brentwood turned the ball over and from the resulting counter attack Jake scored under the posts. Adam converted, 38-0.
More good pressure from Brentwood and some superb stepping from Joel gave him his second try of the match and with Adam kicking a great conversion it was 45-0. For the last part of the game James Payton was on at centre and it was clear from the first ball he took that he was definitely a crash centre as he went charging straight through the middle. Rochford however scored a well deserved try and it was 45-5 to Brentwood. Soon after a clever kick over from Rochford nearly helped them to their second try but Chris McCarthy raced back magnificently to dive on the loose ball before the Rochford player got to it and saved the try (and Chris threatened me so I had to say that!).
The last try just had to go to one person, James Payton at centre, and it did after on another crash ball he bounced a Rochford defender and ran over to score, although only just after nearly running over the dead ball line! Adam kicked a great conversion and it was 52-5 at full time.
Although the score was large it didn’t really tell the true story of the game with Brentwood just being far more clinical. Brentwood’s coach Ian Dennis echoed these thoughts, being quoted as saying, “They [Brentwood] were rubbish!” On a serious note he said that they “didn’t play their best but this game was testament to how well they can play and everybody did their bit today, despite three from the 22 missing.” Keith Morgan added that this was “a good result” and that “the old faithful didn’t let him down but the players who came on played exceptionally well and are pushing for a first 15 spot.”