CLACTON 26

COLCHESTER XV 0

Friendly

CLACTON should have played host to Dagenham in an Essex League fixture on Saturday.

They had also arranged a pre-match lunch but, unfortunately, their scheduled opponents pulled out of the league just before the start of the season.

It left the Seasiders without a team to play on one of their biggest days.

However, Colchester kindly stepped into the breach and the mixed side they sent to Vista Road provided some excellent and spirited opposition.

The scoreline is misleading, with Clacton certainly not having things all their own way.

Two first-half tries from Shane Jerram and Aaron Redpath, which were both converted by Elliott Shuttleworth, gave the home side a 14-0 advantage before the team was shuffled round at the break.

They then had some serious defending to do to keep the visitors out, before tries from Shane Scott and Sam Mockford, along with Tom Nation’s last-kick conversion, added 12 more points to the tally.

With over 60 members and guests sitting down to lunch, Clacton are grateful to the Mill Road club for helping out to make the day a success.

Following the excellent meal, the Seasiders were presented with their RFU Accreditation Award by Ivor Smith, the secretary of the Essex Rugby Union.

On Saturday, both Clacton teams are in action for the last time in 2015.

The first team travel to Canvey Island for an Essex League fixture, while the Kestrels play host to Mersea Island Rhinos at Vista Road in Eastern Counties League division three south.

Both games kick-off at 2pm.

The teams then have a fortnight’s break before resuming on Saturday, January 9.