CHAMPIONS Westcliff rounded off a memorable season with a 25-14 win over Romford.
Rob Smith opened the scoring for the leaders with a penalty and the lead was increased in tremendous style as Westcliff swept upfield in an attack that saw Paul Radley zip past the defence for a try whichSmith converted to make it 10-0.
The Romford defence stood up well to an onslaught by Westcliff who were roared on by a large crowd including long time sponsors solicitors Tolhurst Fisher.
Another Smith penalty lifted Westcliff to 13-0 and then Warren Duff joined the line to burst through for a try that Smith goaled for 20-0.
Some excellent work by the backs, especially a break by Nick Sigwart, almost brought another try but the move was brought back as one of the passes was forward.
Romford now came back into the game and proved they still had some fight in them.
They worked a hard earned try and converted it to give them some hope.
Westcliff roused themselves and a move in which Don Mhlaba was prominent ended with a try from Rob Smith and a 25-7 score as it went unconverted.
Romford suddenly put in a massive effort and disrupted the Westcliff scrum and bossed the forward exchanges for a while but were themselves disrupted when one of their players left the field with a bad cut on his head.
They re-organised and gave Westcliff's pack a hard time again and thoroughly deserved a second try which was converted to make it 25-14.
With a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel Romford went all out for another score but Westcliff's defence was strong enough to keep them out and stop the revival and to hang on for an excellent win.
It was also a good day for third placed Rochford as they won 46-13 at Colchester.
Despite the eventual score-line, the home-side dominated the opening 20 minutes and raced into a 6-0 lead.
Stand off Tom Ashton was able to claw one back but just as Rochford started to put some moves together an interception by Colchester saw them go further ahead with a converted try. Ashton again replied with another Rochford penalty and they started the second half with a strong wind behind them.
Subsequently, Jon Baker started the ball rolling with a well taken try which Ashton converted to level the score.
A lovely piece of skill by Ashton saw him run through under the posts and convert to put Rochford in the lead.
Captain Matt Norris, playing his last game in that role, powered his way over for another try and then second row Sam Tape charged up the field with fellow second row Ryan Stephenson in support.
Tape drew the opposition and produced a great pass for Stephenson to finish. Ashton again converted.
Probably the pick of the tries was Darren Spencer's as he rounded off a good personal performance with a terrific run to score under the posts and Ashton collected another two points. It was only fitting that top try scorer Danny Cleare should finish the season with a typical try as he split the defence with his electric pace to run in for his 34th try of the season and for the ever reliable Ashton to have the final say with another clean kick through the uprights.
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