Southend Sabres play-off dream came to an end with a 26-8 defeat at Nottingham Caesars.

Facing the third-ranked side in the play-offs was always going to be a tall order for the Essex squad, especially after they completed their Northern Conference season with just one defeat from nine matches.

And so it proved as the Seasiders crashed out in the first stage of the end-of-season play-offs.

Nottingham now face Yorkshire Rams in the semi-finals.

Published Friday August 16, 2002

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