Bancroft started 2026 on a cold January day full of hope and expectation. However, they seemed to be suffering from the Christmas and New Year break and were slow out of the starting blocks.
Rochford sensed this and quickly applied pressure resulting in two early scores.
Bancroft started to wake up and the game became more of a contest with both sides defending well. Rochford scored again but that would be it for them for the rest of the half and in fact, the game.
Bancroft were on the rise but it was taking a long time to really find their rythm. The break through came 10 minutes in to the second half when Alex Neave forced his way over from close range to open the scoring for Bancroft.
as the second half progressed the Rochfford defence became more desparate but it held up as Bancroft came at them time and again. Another drive at close range saw Bancrofts second try and put them within one score of snatching the game.
However, time was runnning out and Bancroft could not quite put the play together to undo Rochford. A close and well contested game to open the season even if the result was disappointing.