MERSEA Island skipper and coach Jon Williams was delighted with his side’s first Eastern Counties League division one away win of the season, a 39-26 victory at Woodbridge.

The Islanders have seen an upturn in form since the turn of the year, winning four of their last five games.

And they now look to have consolidated their position in the division in ninth place on 35 points and will be looking to edge further up the table.

Williams said: “We lost last year’s player-of-the-season, Rob Pickard, before the game as he has moved to join Colchester.

“But we had a number of new faces who came in and did a great job.

“As a captain and a coach I was thrilled with the way the boys applied themselves and took the ball to Woodbridge.

“Matt White had a great game as a stand-in hooker, and there were debuts at fly-half for Calvin Smith and Harry Marsden at centre.

“We linked up well and there were some great lines run.”

Mersea made a flying start to the match and almost scored early on but Tom Knifton, on his return to the side, dropped the ball over the tryline.

But the visitors were on the front foot and they powered over for prop Dave Murrell to score.

And this was followed up as Knifton then managed to get over the tryline again and this time complete the touchdown.

Mersea were in the ascendancy and the only pressure they were put under was of their own making when moves broke down or from loose passes.

White then made it 15-0 when he crossed for Mersea’s third try and Williams extended the score with the conversion.

But Woodbridge hit back with a converted try through their number eight.

However, Mersea extended their lead before the break when Matt Rose crossed for a try to make it 22-7.

The first ten minutes of the second half were crucial for the visitors and they made it count when centre Jordan Day, on for Marsden who had picked up a knee injury, ran through to score under the posts.

Williams added the conversion for a 29-7 lead.

Rose then crossed for another try to push Mersea 34-7 in front.

With Mersea tiring in the last quarter of the game Woodbridge came back to score three late tries.

However, in the last ten minutes Knifton scored a try to wrap up a deserved win for the Islanders.

Williams said: “There were lots of positives from the game.

“Will Powell came on as a substitute on the wing and put in some great tackles.

“Andy Banks had a great game in the pack and there was a man-of-the-match performance from Stu Bradshaw.”