SOUTHEND 32

SHELFORD 15

Southend moved up to third place in London Three Northeast with a dominating victory over winless Shelford at Warners Park.

Captain James Shearing and player-coach Kevin Harman led by example, inspiring the seaside club's other players to a match-winning effort.

The first half was fairly quiet, but Southend nudged ahead on ten minutes through a David Haynes try after scrum-half Jamie Naylor worked an opening. Harman converted to put Southend 7-0 up.

The seasiders extended their lead when Nathan Strange kicked through for supporting full-back Cor Ventor to touch down his first try of the season.

The conversion was missed, but Harman made up for it by kicking a drop goal that made it 15-0 to Southend at half-time.

Shelford got back into the game shortly after the break when a converted try and penalty sandwiched a three-pointer kicked by Harman.

But Southend were not to be denied and winger Paul Bantick's try made it 27-10 after he received a quick ball from the Southend backs.

Although Shelford grabbed another try, Jamie Lord intercepted a stray pass and streaked down the sideline to ensure Southend's victory. Harman had no trouble with the conversion.

Stanford edge a thriller

STANFORD 16

WESTCLIFF 11

Stanford won the battle of the top two in Eastern Counties Two South in an end-to-end encounter at Stanford Rec.

However, Westcliff were disappointed not to have gained something from the game after pushing the home side all the way.

Fly-half Jamie Daisley, Stanford's player coach, set the home side on their way with a penalty goal, but both sides agreed that Westcliff had most of the pressure in the first half.

But Stanford, who were missing five players including winger Craig White, put up some determined defence to weather the storm and went ahead 6-3 as the teams traded penalties.

A sin-binning early in the second-half handed Stanford the momentum and tries from Gavin Scott and Daisley clinched the points for the home side.

Westcliff's points came from two Nick Harry penalties and a try by Ollie Neville.

Get a grip - a Stanford player hauls back his Westcliff opponent at Stanford Rec

Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

Wyverns winless

RAVENS 24

RAYLEIGH WYVERNS19

Rayleigh put in a battling effort, but remain winless after three games of the Eastern Counties Three South season.

Led by hooker Simon Anthrobus, Rayleigh kept pace most of the way with their opponents.

But tries from Kenny Miller, Nick Poskett and Guy Taylor, plus two conversions from Rob Lagden, were not enough.

Rochford second

ROCHFORD 31

WYMONDHAM 0

Defending champions Rochford moved ominously into second spot in London Three Northeast after brushing aside Norfolk visitors Wymondham.

The club turned in an impressive display and could have scored more had they not taken their foot off the pedal in the second half.

The early exchanges were fairly even, but with the first decent ball to the backs, Rochford's Matt Barber opened the scoring with an unconverted try.

It was the speed and turn-over rate of the Rochford forwards that provided the impetus for their backs to take control. From one of these moves, centre Alan Barker powered over for a try, converted by Ben Green.

Rochford were now in full flow and extended their lead with tries from replacement Jon Brown and Barker, with Green converting both.

The half finished with Rochford leading 26-0 and with great expectations of better things to come.

As it turned out the game was a lot closer in the second period due to Wymondham's change of tactics and Rochford's inability to maintain their first half momentum.

However, Matt Barber split the opposition's defence to seal the match with an unconverted try.

Basildon preserve top spot

BASILDON 44

CAMPION 15

Pace-setters Basildon maintained their grip on top spot of London Three Northeast with a display of fast-flowing, supportive rugby at Gardiners Close.

Campion found the pace too hot to handle and with Basildon's threequarters supporting each other, it was not long before the score started to mount up.

Winger Lloyd Williams opened the floodgates for Scott Liebenberg's men with a fine try involving most of the threequarter line. Clearly in the middle of a rich vein of form, Williams then joined Luke Kirkup in setting up the second try for Craig McClelland.

McClelland and fellow back row men Kirkup and TV Spellman all had good games as the Basildon forwards supplied a constant stream of ball.

It was Williams himself who scored the third try, latching on to a loose ball and flying through the defence to score a fine individual effort.

Campion came back with a good try, but this was immediately answered by Williams, who scored his third of the day after a strong run by fit-again John Hickey.

The visitors were now having their best spell and crossed the Basildon line again, but Hickey powered his way over for his second five-pointer to extend new towners' lead.

Basildon had the final word when Matt Tilson scythed through the defence for a try.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.