SOUTHEND Saxons’ director of rugby Chris Green feels his side are slowly getting back to their best after beating Worthing Raiders 23-14 at Warners Bridge in National Two South on Saturday.

The victory secured back-to-back wins for Southend for the first time this season.

And Green is pleased with the progress being made.

“We made a slow start but we’re getting up to speed again now and it’s been great to win the last couple of matches,” said Green.

“We started well on Saturday to set things up and, if we’re being honest, we could maybe have been a bit more clinical and won by even more.

“The second half was quite scrappy but we were able to stay in front and we’re nowhere near having a full strength side so that makes the win even more encouraging against a team who were in the league above us last season.”

Injuries to winger Danny Cleare and centre Chris Vaughan slightly marred the victory for Southend.

But the home-side got off to a great start with Tom Ashton putting them in front before the in-form Harry Hudson scored yet another try.

The powerful number eight scored just four tries throughout the whole of last season but his effort at the weekend was his fourth in three games and was also his fifth of the current campaign.

Ashton’s conversion made it 10-0 before he extended Saxons’ lead even further with a penalty.

Worthing hit back with a try from Ben Loosmore which Matt McLean converted.

But another penalty from Ashton put Southend 16-7 in front at half-time.

After the break, Saxons were reduced to 14 men when Hudson was sent to the sin bin but Worthing were unable to capatilise as they struggled to impose themselves on the game.

Southend soon took full advantage of that too as they were awarded a penalty try which Ashton again converted to make it 23-7.

The visitors hit back with Calum Waters scoring a late try with McLean again converted.

But Worthing were unable to trouble Southend again as they moved up to 11th in the table.

Southend: Billings, Cleare, Ashton, Vaughan, Driver, Burr, Powell, Strachan, Bloomberg, Bevans-Royston, Chesney, Jackson, Ferrier, Kellard, Hudson.

Replacements: Day-White, Smith, Green, Nash & Meads.