An early try saw Southend's year get off to a blistering start, but they could not press home their early advantage against the league leaders on Saturday.

When New Zealander Jamie Connors touched down to give the visitors a five-point lead after just four minutes, it looked as though the visitors could follow up their win over second-placed North Walsham with an even more impressive victory.

That did not materialise, but they played well and did better than most at the world's oldest rugby club.

Director of rugby Kevin Harman said: "I was very pleased with the boys' commitment, and their effort throughout the game was exemplary.

"In the first half, we played some very good rugby and scored that early try.

"We were 11-5 down going into the second half, where I believe we could have won the game, but we lacked composure in the phase rugby and precision at line-outs. That's what cost us the game."

Captain James Shearing added: "That was another committed performance, but some ill discipline - and their kicker putting us under pressure - lead to us playing constant catch-up rugby.

"As a result, we were making errors too early on in the game."

Blackheath full-back Derek Coates kicked his side's first points just five minutes after Connors' try, while Ali Chambers went close with an heroic penalty effort for Southend - skimming the underside of the crossbar from halfway.

Sloppy play at a line-out in the visitors' 22 let the hosts in for the try that let them get their noses in front and another penalty followed before the break.

Blackheath's second and final try came ten minutes after the interval, but Southend had seen some good phases of play on either side of the break spoilt by a smattering of schoolboy errors.

Published Tuesday January 6, 2004

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