Esher run riot championship To seal glory
ESHER put the seal on their title triumph with an emphatic victory over hosts Rochford Hundred.
After the disappointment of losing to local rivals Westcliff last week, Rochford wanted to finish the season on a high note.
However, that was never going to be easy when they were hosting league leaders Esher in the final match of a very hard-fought season.
After a shaky first half, Rochford fought back well and, despite losing to a stronger, more skilful and clinical Surrey outfit, they gave a good account of themselves and came away with a losing try bonus point as consolation.
The away team stormed into a commanding lead thanks to their skilful play and some basic errors from Rochford.
Myles Rawstron-Rudd kicked an early penalty to open the scoring and wing Tomasz Pozniak then scored a try that
Rawstron-Rudd converted.
Shortly after, wing forward Cameron Wilkins added another try. Rawstron-Rudd converted to put Esher 17-0 ahead inside 15 minutes and Rochford were in trouble.
Stand-off Jack Lavin increased the advantage with another try and Rawstron-Rudd added the extras. When Pozniak scored his second try and Rawstron-Rudd converted, the visitors led 31-0.
At last, Rochford countered and were rewarded with a try from big, athletic second-row Sam Fombo, playing his last game for Rochford having joined in 2017. Chris Dudman converted and the home team were on the scoreboard.
There were two more tries for Esher before the break, from Fergus Donnelly and Rawstron-Rudd, one of which was converted.
It was going to take a massive effort from the Essex lads to stop the rot, but that is exactly what they did just before halftime when impressive
centre Wouter Roters ran in for a try to make it 4312 at the turn-around.
However, Esher opened the second-half scoring with another Wilkins try and Rawstron-Rudd again converted.
Not to be outdone, Roters went over again for Rochford in the 46th minute and the hosts fought hard during this period. Although second best in the set-pieces, they were unlucky not to add to their tally.
Esher prop Matthew Lowes crashed through in 69th minute to score and
Rawstron-Rudd put over his seventh conversion. Rochford did not give up and massive prop Najee Mundicha got a fourth try to earn a bonus point. Dudman converted.
Esher were deserved winners but Rochford head coach Danny Cleare was very pleased with his team’s second-half performance.
He said the campaign had been a sharp learning curve, but he is confident that, with “the experience gained this season, Rochford can hold their own” at this level.