For the third week in succession Southend started in rampant style with Lloyd Goddard and Edmund Murinyu running in tries form 40 yards.

Scrum half Mark Downing converted both to put the visitors in the driving seat.

But Burnham's forwards battled their way into the game and put the scrummage under lots of pressure.

Two tries and a conversion brought the hosts back into contention before Goddard added an opportunist try to make 19-12 at half time. Burnham's pack exerted further pressure in the second half, but Southend responded with a Downing try which he also converted.

The hosts went over from a lineout, but they missed the crucial conversion which would have clinched the match.

SOUTHEND A 29

BURNHAM II 0

Fourteen-man Southend got their third win in a row even though they played without a fullback.

A fine team effort saw the forwards and backs combine well in open play to keep possession and keep their opponents pinned in their own half for most of the game.

Brett Harrington opened the scoring early in the first-half before Heath added a push over try minutes later.

Southend built on their dominance in the second half with further tries from Nick Kelly (two) and man of the match Danny Kilburn.

Alan Myles converted two of the tries to give Southend a well-deserved win.

SOUTHEND CARDINALS 10

BILLERICAY VETS II 3

Southend's veterans needed an outstanding performance and a try in each half to overcome a powerful and well-organised Billericay side.

The hosts scored within ten minutes when winger Peter Lynch went over in the corner which was followed by a war of attrition by both sets of forwards.

But it was Southend's front row which caused Billericay problems in scrums, while the visitors faired better in the lineouts thanks to their organised lifting.

Billericay came within two points of Southend in the second-half when they scored a penalty after the Cardinals were caught offside in midfield.

Fine defending from Nige Branch, Mark Fix and Ken Baynes kept out Billericay as they battled for a try.

But Baynes broke from an advancing scrum to feed scrum half Chris Pratt, who scored in the corner to take the score to 10-3.

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