Skipper James Shearing has vowed "we won't make the same mistakes again" ahead of Southend's crunch match with Barking tomorrow.
The Essex derby at Warners Park will be one of the highlights of rugby in the region this year, with the county's two top sides locking horns in what promises to be a battle royale.
And, despite the bitter weather, Shearing insists his side won't be caught cold this time around - unlike when the side met in November.
Southend trailed 27-0 at half time that day and lost 47-22 despite a stirring second-half comeback.
"In the game at Goresbrook we were caught napping early on by their exceptional fly-half," he recalled.
"We will not make the same mistake twice!"
Southend's recent form is good, with last week's 67-22 trouncing of Old Colfeians preceded with a fine win at Tabard - they are in far better nick than they were before the previous derby while their west-of-the-county were table-toppers then and lie fourth now.
Barking were surprisingly beaten last week by Old Patesians, who are one place below the Seasiders in ninth, and struggled to beat Colfeians in their previous match.
Published Friday January 30, 2004
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