MERSEA Island continued their winning run with a hard-fought Eastern Counties League division one 34-10 victory against Wisbech.

However, the Islanders had to do it without their skipper and coach Jon Williams, who resigned his position at the club last Thursday.

“It is with great regret that I took the decision to stand down,” Williams said.

“I have been with Mersea for 20 years but due to work/life commitments I felt I didn’t have the time I needed to devote to the club.

“It was a very sad decision for me.

“I wish everyone at the club the best of luck in the future.

“I think I have left the club in a good position.

“With fives wins out of the last six, they are doing well in the league and hopefully it will stand them in good stead,” Williams added.

“There have been a number of excellent new recruits over the last couple of weeks that are also a major boost for the club.”

After a reshuffle again in the pack, Mersea looked set to take the game to the visitors in front of a large home crowd, hoping to turn the tables on the 50-3 defeat in the away fixture back in November.

Mersea started the game very well, with hard-hitting Andy Kahn retrieving the ball from the kick-off and Matt White and Dave Murrell rucking over to recycle the ball.

Forward play from Mersea kept the ball alive with big runs from Andy Cawtheray and Stu Bradshaw punching through the Wisbech defence gave a good attacking platform.

However, Wisbech’s tough and well-drilled defence withstood the pressure.

Mersea gave away a number of penalties in the next five minutes following poor discipline from the pack, which resulted in Wisbech getting on to the scoresheet with a neatly slotted three points.

Mersea rallied and Paul Lemarquand broke through the defence and a long pass released supporting hooker White to run 60 metres before being tackled in the opposing 22.

Some quick rucking and fast thinking from the Mersea backs set up a great opportunity for prop Dave Murrell to bulldoze his way over the line for the first try of the game.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure through the backs.

With fly-half Calvin Smith pulling the strings, Mersea were able to score again quickly through Drum Sydenham and Matt Rose.

Before the break, Mersea conceded a number of penalties allowing Wisbech to inch their way up the pitch. Continued infringements left the referee with no choice but to pull out the yellow card and send Dave Bredin to the bin for ten minutes.

Wisbech used their extra man to good advantage and quick thinking by their prop allowed the visitors to score their first try of the game just before the half-time whistle.

Mersea knew they had stop the ill-discipline and turn their pressure into points.

With almost the first play of the second half Mersea had wrapped up the bonus point try with fly-half Smith making it over the try-line.

Man-of-the-match Rose complete his hat-trick and prop Cawtheray popped up in between his two tries to power over from 20 metres for another five points.

Wisbech came back into the game with their replacement prop proving difficult for Mersea to keep at bay.

However, some big tackles and hard running from Mersea kept Wisbech away.