Southend suffered another home defeat at the weekend when they lost 13 – 58 to Cambridge. This leaves them lying third from bottom in National League 2 after four games. Not many you may say but the three losses were all at home and it’s been many a long year since that last happened.
Saturdays affair was pretty one sided with Southend struggling to contain some powerful and expansive rugby from their visitors. Their manager Mal Scofield said that they played to a game plan formulated from information gleaned from the recce squad they sent to the Westcombe Park game, our two ex players Guess and Legge and ex coach Bob Crooks.
Cambridge started well with a well worked try from lost possession by Southend when Hinckens their full back went over for the first try of the game. Frost got it back to 3 -5 soon after with a penalty but that was cancelled out with one from Cambridge, 3 – 10.
Southend looked to get back to level terms when Tyson Lewis ran down a cross field kick collected one handed and dived over between the posts. Southends supporter’s cheers were soon stifled when the far side assistant referee called it back for being in front of the kicker. Electrifying pace sometimes works against you.
From then on it was all Cambridge who scored a further four tries and two conversions without reply, 3 – 29 at the break.
Soon after the second half commenced Tyson Lewis again made a run, this time breaking a couple of tackles to go over in the corner. Unfortunately he was injured in the process and had to come off and was replaced by Danny Cleare, 8 – 29.
Any thought of a comeback were soon dashed as Cambridge ran in a further four tries converting three and adding a penalty. Danny Cleare added to his seasons try count by scoring another fine try at the end but it was of little consolation as the game finished with what can only be described as a run away victory for Cambridge.
Southend travel away next Saturday to Cinderford in the Forest of Dean who came up this season from National 3. Players and coaches will be working hard this week to resurrect the form they showed at Blackheath.
Alan Grace
Match Stats
