IT was mission accomplished for Southend’s director of rugby Chris Green after his side run home nine tries to beat Bournemouth 57-26 in National Two South on Saturday.

Green set his side the target of a win and a bonus point for scoring more than four tries.

And he was delighted to see the team come up trumps at Warners Bridge.

“We set out what we wanted to achieve before the game so in that respect we have to be happy,” said Green.

“It was also nice to score the nine tries because we want to improve our points difference between now and the end of the season.

“But while we obviously need to enjoy it we need to realise we could still do better and could probably have scored 12 or 13 if we had been more clinical.

“However, we got the points we wanted and if we can win our remaining three games then I still think we can end the season in the top five.”

Southend took just two minutes to open the scoring at the weekend as winger Sam Nash touched down and Brad Burr added the conversion.

However, Bournemouth soon hit back and tries from Samuel Venereso and Russell Westcott plus a single conversion from Venereso put the visitors 12-7 in front.

A try from Seasiders’ second row Sam Fombo, which was converted by Burr, put the hosts back ahead and a brace of tries from Chris Vaughan, which were both converted by Burr, extended that lead to 28-12.

Nash soon also added his second try of the day to make it 33-12 at the break but it was Bournemouth who scored first after the interval with Robert Fuller touching down and Venereso kicking the extras.

But Southend were soon back on top with full-back Mark Billings scoring a try which Burr converted and, with 54 minutes on the clock, winger Danny Cleare also touched down.

Burr kicked the conversion to make it 47-19 and a try from back row Harry Hudson then put the Seasiders even further in front.

Burr then also went over to take his points tally to 17 with Southend’s final try of the game but Bournemouth secured the final score of the game with Venereso scoring a try he also converted late on.

Southend remain eighth in the standings, seven points behind fifth placed Clifton and travel to bottom of the table Exmouth at the weekend.