Upminster find it tough on the road....

Upminster travelled to Southwold looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing result at home to Ely RFC.

It was a strong start from the home side, putting the visitors on the back foot straight from the kick off. Upminster playing up the slope with the sun behind them first half started to get some possession and an up and under from fly-half Laurence Heywood put the home full back under pressure with a challenge from full back Chris Lamb. Unfortunately, the ball was knocked on by Lamb, who was then replaced after suffering a split to his hand which later required 4 stitches. Replacement Jimmy Harper came into the back row whilst Roberto Galvan went into the centres and winger Greg Dordoy moving across to full back.

Southwold continued to pressure the visitors and some impressive defence kept the hosts at bay. 20 mins into the game and the visitors were forced into another change as hooker Glenn Kennedy was replaced after suffering an injury. Another reshuffle of players saw replacement Rob Stanley enter the pitch with winger Matt Byrne moving into the front row and Harry Lockwood moving on to the wing.

Upminster started to settle and play some good rugby, Roberto Galvan intercepting a pass just inside the visitors half but unable to finish the run off getting caught by the covering winger five metres short of the try line. The pressure from hosts started to tell when they scored there first try of the game under the posts and them added a penalty shortly after to increase the lead to 10-0. Following the restart, some missed tackles allowed the second row of Southwold to run unopposed and score the second try of the game, again under the posts taking the score to 17-0.

The second half started with Upminster in possession of the ball and looking to reduce the scoreline. Some good passages of play were let down by the final pass and execution and seemed the galvanise the hosts who started to take more of a stranglehold on the game. The second half was a different display of which was produced in the first half with Southwold running in a further four tries to take the score to 39-0 which finished as the final result.

Next week sees Upminster back at Hall Lane and welcoming Wanstead in what is anticipated to be an interesting and tough test. Wanstead have lost the last three and we are looking to get back to winning ways. Kick off next week is 2.30pm.

1st XV v Southwold: 1. Kieran Jenkins, 2. Glenn Kennedy, 3. Harry Long, 4. Ben Fryatt, 5. Jon Barnes, 6. Roberto Galvan, 7. Craig Portsmouth (Capt), 8. George Cox, 9. Harry Lockwood, 10. Laurence Heywood, 11. Jack Goldrick, 12. Matt Munn, 13. Matt Byrne, 14. Greg Dordoy, 15. Chris Lamb

Reps: 16. Luke Potter, 17. Jimmy Harper, 18. Rob Stanley