Thurrock stayed fifth in London One despite a convincing performance against second-placed Winchester.

The home side notched up eight tries and five conversions after finding themselves 10-0 down in the first ten minutes after conceding a converted try and a penalty.

Phil Green started the Thurrock fightback with two tries and the home side went in 19-10 up at the break after Phil Morritt added another try and Rob Rees two conversions.

The start of the second half was a carbon copy of the first with Winchester getting a try and a penalty to bring the scores to 19-18.

But the visitors failed to take advantage of the cross wind which was blowing in their favour and Thurrock got the bit between their teeth.

Dave Stevens scored a try following good work by Jim Evans before Green, Paul Dale, Craig White and Rees added further tries.

Rees also collected another six points from three conversions, although Winchester scored an injury time try from a line-out.

Lift off - Thurrock rise above Winchester to win this line-out

Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

Third time lucky

HOLT 10

BASILDON 15

It was third time lucky for Basildon when they made the long trip to Norfolk side Holt on Saturday.

The last two occasions the London Three North East sides met saw Holt edge the game.

But Basildon came away with their first win despite a ferocious wind which made line-outs and handling difficult for both sides.

Holt scored first after Scott Weekes was dispossessed at the base of the scrum. But Basildon replied through 12 of their players, who sent the ball from side to side before Carl Selway went over.

The new towners' forwards set up the second try with Gary Smith and Richard Dennis putting Luke Kirkup over for a try that rewarded his good play throughout the match.

Holt equalised in the second half after a couple of missed tackles which were put down to the long journey and wind taking their effect.

Yet Basildon bounced back with a well-worked move which saw Lloyd Williams score.

The hosts spent the last five minutes camped on the Basildon line, but were unable to equalise.

Basildon spokesman Dai Griffiths said it was a good performance, despite conceding two tries to their spirited opponents.

He praised John Chapman for controlling the game after coming in for fly half Matt Tilson and saluted the power of Richard Dennis, who had to go off with an ankle injury in the second half.

The new towners now face a run in to the end of the season which will see them take on strong sides Hadleigh and Eton Manor as Basildon seek to consolidate their position towards the top of the table.

Basildon's seconds played Wanstead and conceded two tries towards the death in an ill-mannered game at Gardiners Close, which saw the hosts have one try disallowed.

Islanders triumph

CANVEY ISLAND 29

MALDON 21

The islanders came out on top in a hard-fought London Three North East game which saw Maldon strong in defence in incredibly windy conditions.

Canvey's seconds lost 46-7 at Bishops Stortford while the islanders' third team took on Maldon's thirds and comprehensively beat them 35-0 in what was an entertaining match.

Westcliff floored by Suffolk punch

WESTCLIFF 11

WOODBRIDGE 60

Boosted by memories of their close game against Eastern Counties One leaders Saffron Walden, Westcliff went into this game with high hopes.

But the Suffolk visitors had other plans and powered their way to victory over a Westcliff side decimated by injury as several players were sidelined or failed late fitness tests.

Woodbridge opened the scoring and started piling on the points before the hosts scored through second row forward Mark Wass .

Although the lighter Westcliff pack held the Woodbridge forwards, their backs were the visitors' strongest asset and ran in more tries.

Westcliff kept their hopes alive with two penalties from Ben Weller, but despite feeling a couple of Woodbridge's tries were lucky, they knew they had lost to the better side.

"I thought Woodbridge were fortunate in a couple of refereeing decisions which ended in tries," said club spokesman Geoff Sawyer.

"Towards the end we camped on their line and they infringed four times with the same offence (not retreating enough), but the ref did not give a penalty try. Although I feel the scoreline flatters them, they were a good 40 points better than us."

Injuries hit hard

WESTCLIFF U15 0

CAMBRIDGE U15 39

Injuries forced a shake-up in the forwards for Westcliff against a strong Cambridge side.

The visitors play two divisions higher than Westcliff at senior level and it was mirrored here, with Cambridge much too good for their hosts.

But Westcliff did not give up and were nearly rewarded for their perseverance when they got the ball over the line but were unable to touch it down.

However, Cambridge's ploy of using their big centres to run through the middle as hard as possible with a stream of players behind them eventually paid dividends.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.