The match wasn’t all one-sided as the gnarled Regimental veterans played a tight game and only offered space on the outside after their strong-arm tactics failed or a lack of unity led to an error and a turn over. The home team started fast and despite an early score the Regiment shocked them by replying with a brace of tries, the first by MoM Cpl Simon Mataceva (Vikings), on his way to a first hat trick in the fixture.
Then another from Sgt Karl Smith (Vikings) who was driven over by his pals in the pack. The match was played in quarters due to the heat separated by water breaks. A pattern soon developed, with the Rochford team able to run through their well-practiced routines only to be foiled by last ditch tackles by the Regiment or errors from the home team. Rochford scored some great tries and the Regimental team for their part started to have some success with short range drives, especially with Spencer and Barker (Vikings) and some strong Pompadour driving from Green and Knifton.
These efforts kept the match tight enough to be entertaining and up until the last 10 minutes. The Regiment stayed within 2 scores of their youthful hosts. The additional tries were dotted down by Mataceva (2) Fitzgerald and Barker.
