DESPITE making their longest trip of the season without the requisite number of players, Clacton produced a battling performance in Kings Lynn against West Norfolk, but lost 63-10 in their London League division three north east encounter.

Lack of availability and last minute call-offs meant that the Seasiders had to play the whole of the London League division three north east match with just 14 players, but those that did turn out did both the club and themselves proud.

It was a bright, sunny afternoon near The Wash, with the crossfield breeze assisting neither side.

The home side had the majority of the early play but were unable to really use it to their advantage.

Clacton’s front three of Simon Anderson, Tom Cox, and Shane Jerram were ably assisted by Ben Buxey, Josh Byford, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Alan Lee and Max Swift, and more than held their own in the set-pieces.

The first try took 15 minutes to arrive but then four more followed in the first half.

Fortunately, from a Clacton perspective, none of them could be converted, and the half-time score was 25-0.

A sixth try within two minutes of the restart could have meant a long second half, but some tenacious tackling and incisive running from James Baldock, Jake Buxey, Dave Hitchin, Gokul Rajeev, Aaron Redpath and Jon Vine enabled Clacton to build-up some pressure in the home side’s 22.

After battering away at the try-line, the ball was cleared upfield.

However, Vine’s direct run under the posts returned it with interest to get the Seasiders on to the scoreboard.

It says much for the attitude of the Clacton players that they kept up the pressure and it was rather against the run of play that a West Norfolk breakaway try under the posts increased the home side’s lead.

Their pacy winger added another, two minutes later, to extend the score to 44-5 and it looked as if they had at last found out how to use the extra-man advantage.

A ninth try came with 13 minutes left.

But back came the resolute 14, a seemingly well-constructed rolling maul looked to be getting them a second score until the ball was mysteriously stolen by the home side and kicked upfield for try number ten.

Still the Seasiders refused to lie down and the biggest cheer of the day from the large crowd came with just three minutes to go.

Simon Anderson intercepted the ball just inside his own half and saw the home try-line beckoning some 55 metres away.

Despite the attentions of a couple of opposition players, and with the crowd urging him on, he reached the line before crashing over exhausted for a tremendous individual effort.

However, that still left time for West Norfolk to get one more score, with the successful conversion proving to be the last kick of the game, and a final tally of 63-10.