SOUTHEND Rugby Club’s Chris Vaughan labelled his side’s 39-13 defeat to Bishop’s Stortford at Warners Bridge on Saturday as ‘pretty appalling.’

The reverse was the Seasiders’ fifth in succession to keep them ninth in National Two South.

And Vaughan offered no excuses for the poor performance.

“We had played well in the previous defeats and were feeling quite confident but it was pretty appalling at the weekend to be honest,” said Vaughan, 24.

“We had defended really well in the games leading up to this one but we just didn’t seem to turn up for the start of the game against Bishop’s Stortford and they wanted it more than us.”

As a result, Stortford went in front after just three minutes when a rolling maul ended with prop Adam Gelman touching down for an unconverted try.

Southend hit back with a penalty from Brad Burr but the visiting Tim Coleman hit back with two of his own to put the Hertfordshire side 11-3 in front.

The Seasiders cut that lead with a try from winger Danny Cleare but Stortford were on top with full-back Nick Hankin scoring a try just before the break to make it 18-8 at the interval.

Southend initially improved at the start of the second half and had a try disallowed after a Stortford back was adjudged to have been obstructed.

But the visitors hit back to extend their lead in the 55th minute when Hankin scored his second try of the afternoon.

Coleman added the conversion before Gelman also went over for his second try which was converted again by Gelman.

Stortford went 39-8 in front when scrum half Arran Mahoney also touched down for a converted try before Southend bagged a late consolation when hooker Marcus Bloomberg touched down six minutes from time.

The Seasiders will now be bidding to bounce back when they head to 12th placed Launceston at the weekend.

Vaughan said: “I’m sure Saturday was just a one off and that we will be back to our best by the time we play again,” said the former King John School pupil.

“Launceston is a tough place to go as it’s a long journey and they always have a good home record but we will all be fired up to put things right.”