Braintree’s promising start to the season seems like a distant memory after a fourth straight league defeat.

The game started well for Braintree when Dan Kerr crashed over the line from close range, enabling stand-off and top points scorer Jamie Masters to kick the extra points for a 7-0 lead.

But Rochford hit back four minutes later courtesy of an unconverted try from Michael Stemp.

A second try for the visitors arrived via prop Scott Chivers, Tom Ashton converting to put the south Essex side 12-7 ahead.

The hosts levelled the scores on 16 minutes when flanker Tom Carslake scored from close range.

Rochford regained the advantage on 22 minutes when fly-half Dan Needham scored their third try, Ashton converting for a 19-12 lead.

Braintree shuffled their forward resources by bringing Jake Avitable and Joe Stevens on for Paul Aldridge and Dan Kerr respectively but there was no further score in the first half.

After the break, a Masters penalty on 42 minutes reduced the arrears to 15-19, but Rochford kept finding ways through the hosts’ defence.

On 50 minutes hooker Tom Corbet crashed over for a try that was converted by Ashton.

Another Masters penalty pegged the visitors back to 26-18 but they then scored a penalty of their own to re-establish their 11-point lead.

Braintree clawed their way back through Chris Ford, but another Rochford penalty by Ashton put the visitors 32-23 in front.

When winger Tom Bavington crashed over for another try two minutes later, it was game over.

Braintree still managed one last flourish, Whyatt securing a second bonus point from a tap-and-go penalty by Adams, with Masters converting.