BASILDON suffered a 24-13 defeat at home to Eton Manor in a forward dominated game played on a very heavy pitch.

Basildon started the better with their pack having the best of the contest up front.

As a result, the home side were 10-0 up after 22 minutes with tries from prop Dave Stevens and second row James O'Brian.

But Manor came back just before half time with a converted try.

Shortly after the break, the visitors ran out of front rows and the scrums went uncontested.

This did Basildon no favours and they were outscored by three tries to a Brad Johnson penalty as they sunk to a seventh straight defeat.

They remain just one point and place above local rivals Rochford in the table.