BASILDON slipped to sixth in the London Two North East standings after suffering a second successive defeat, losing 49-0 at Chelmsford.

Basildon were under pressure right from the start and, with 18 minutes on the clock, they were 10-0 down.

To make matters worse their influential number eight Jim Harman was then red carded and this rather spoilt the match as a spectacle as it was nearly all Chelmsford for the rest of contest.

Five tries, three conversions and a penalty made it 34-0 at half time and things looked bleak for the visitors.

But, with the slope and the wind in the second half, Basildon made more of a fight of it.

Winger Daniel Rowle went over but was adjudged to have been held up.

Chelmsford had no such problems at the other end of the field though, scoring three more excellent tries after fully exploiting the inevitable space out wide.

Basildon’s defeat also enabled South Woodham Ferrers to move up to fifth in the table after they beat Enfield Ignatians 43-36.