SOUTHEND 18

MALDON 15

A large number of Southend first-teamers were unavailable - and the seasiders' highly-mixed side were somewhat fortunate to clinch victory against their worthy visitors.

A very strong wind, which Southend had to their advantage in the first half, proved a major factor.

In fact, just 10 minutes into Saturday's friendly, Sam Newbury crashed over for the first try.

Colt Ollie Neville notched Southend's second score, before Maldon struck back with a well-deserved try.

However, the seasiders finished the opening period strongly, with a try from Phil Bailey, which earned them a 15-5 interval lead.

It was then Maldon's turn to exploit the elements, and two fine tries soon pulled them level.

But Southend full-back Mark James sealed victory with a well-taken penalty. THURROCK 26

GRAVESEND 29

A converted try deep into injury time snatched victory for Gravesend in a competitive friendly rated by Thurrock as ideal for blowing away Christmas fitness cobwebs.

Thurrock, missing a handful of players, conjured up a lively role in a reasonably entertaining contest that defied the windy, squally conditions.

Thurrock tries came from Mark Chandler, Barry Magnurson, Paul Dale and Shane Farnham.

Indeed, Thurrock, who were level at 12-12 at the interval, went ahead with three minutes left - before Gravesend clinched victory two minutes into injury time.

Thurrock spokesman Kevin Hymas said: "There were a few errors, and obviously we would have liked to have won.

"However, the main thing, which we are very pleased about, is the level of fitness we generated.

"Most of the lads had been without any sort of game for two weeks and it was important we got back in shape before London League One rugby starts again next week." Rochford's attempt to resume their league fixtures a week ahead of the rest of south Essex was ended by the weather.

Their virtual top-of-the-table match with Chelmsford was called off due to an unfit Magnolia Road pitch.

London League Three rivals Basildon were also thwarted in their bid to stay match-fit, when Barking second XV called off their scheduled friendly.

Westclifff faced the unusual situation of a weekend completeley without fixtures.

Club spokesman Geoff Sawyer said: "We had so many people unavailable that we probably could only have scraped together one side between us anyway." Unbeaten Billericay suffered last-gasp - but hopefully temporary - Tetley Vase disappointment.

They were changed and ready to play their long-awaited fifth-round home tie, when last season's fellow quarter-finalists UCS Old Boys decided the Stock Road pitch was unplayable.

The decision, about half an hour before Saturday's scheduled kick-off, leaves Billericay hoping the tie can be rearranged for the same time this weekend.

The delay gives Billericay skipper Paul Daly, who was due to return, an extra week's break. John Bailey and Adam Hudson were also set to be restored to the Eastern Counties Two leaders' side. DATCHWORTH 21

STANFORD 15

Stanford's exciting Tetley Vase run ended in the most frustrating of circumstances.

The second-placed Eastern Counties Three side lost a fifth-round tie dominated by the wind, slope, and dreadful pitch - against a home side they rated as the weakest team they have faced in this year's national competition.

Stanford spokesman Darren Watkins stressed: "We are certainly not bitter. The pitch - which was like a potato field - was the same for both sides, although they were obviously more used to it."

The south Essex side were left to rue two pieces of personal misfortune - the absence of established kicker Dave Kelway through a cut knee, and a try-causing error by Jamie Daisley that gave the Hampshire League hosts an 11-point lead.

Watkins said: "We feel very disappointed - that we could have gone much further in the competition - but now we just have to hope East London slip up at the top of the league."

Datchworth were backed by the elements in the first period, yet a Daisley try put Stanford ahead, with skipper Owen Carney narrowly missing his conversion attempt.

However, Stanford conceded a string of penalties, Datchworth going 6-5 in front with the first two, before missing the third one.

The hosts increasingly pinned Stanford in their own 22, and forward power earned them a try in the corner and an 11-5 lead at the interval.

Stanford, still reasonably optimistic due to the small deficit, initially pushed Datchworth back, only to find the hosts surging forward in return and keeping the visitors in their own 22.

Datchworth won a five-yard scrum, and, although Stanford stole it against the put-in, a missed pass between Carney and Daisley enabled the home side to go 18-5 up.

Within five minutes - at last - Stanford began to assert some control, with Carney notching a penalty.

The visitors' forwards fought grittily in draining conditions, and, finally, Kyran McDonald and Gary Smith went down in the corner, both claiming the last touch.

Yet Stanford got bogged down again, and a penalty with the last kick sealed Datchworth's last-16 place. MALDON SECONDS 12

SOUTHEND PRIORS 21

A scoreless first half and a 12-0 deficit with just a dozen minutes left failed to stop Southend from winning impressively.

Mike Cooper's try gave Priors hope, then, with six minutes to go, Charlie Knight and Steve Geddes both scored.

Ollie Petrovitch converted all three tries. The festive break for most south Essex rugby clubs well and truly comes to an end this Saturday.

Clubs face a return, after a two-week break, to London League and Eastern Counties action, but Billericay might have a rearranged Vase tie.

Tough tussle - Southend, in possession, battled out a friendly victory

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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