SOUTHEND’S Director of Rugby Ben Green was left pointing the finger at the referee following his side’s 40-15 defeat at Mounts Bay.

The Seasiders were leading 15-9 at the break thanks to two early tries from hooker Adam Ferrier.

But the home-side hit back during the second half after making the most of some dubious.

“I am not normally one to complain about referees,” said Green.

“I normally think if you do that then you’re hiding the truth from yourself but it was different on Saturday.

“It’s the first time this season I’ve felt this way but out of Mounts Bay’s 40 points 35 have come from penalties.

“They scored one try themselves and there were a number of key decisions which went against us.

“It’s disappointing to say the least and he awarded them two penalty tries. The first one you could maybe understand but the second was very dubious indeed.”

The match had previously began superbly for the Seasiders as they took the lead in just the sixth minute with Ferrier going over for his first try of the season.

Mounts Bay replied with a penalty from Daniel Hawkes but, with 11 minutes on the clock, Ferrier touched down for another try.

Simon Hoult added the conversion to put Southend 12-3 ahead but Hawkes soon replied with another penalty.

Hoult then did likewise for the Seasiders to increase their advantage but a penalty from Hawkes cut Southend’s lead to 15-9 at the interval.

During the second period, Hawkes put his side in front for the first time by successfully kicking a hat-trick of penalties.

And Mounts Bay then continued to extend their lead.

Their first penalty try came in the 63rd minute and Hawkes added the conversion.

The fly-half soon kicked another penalty and seven minutes from time he converted another penalty try.

Late on, number eight Nick Burnett confirmed Mounts Bay’s fourth successive win with a try.

That condemned Southend to their ninth defeat in 11 games.

They remain second from bottom in the standings, but Green could not fault his players for effort.

“That was spot on and we actually played quite well, especially in the first half,” added Green.

“In the second half Mounts Bay did improve and I felt like we got a little bit nervous.

“We haven’t won for a few weeks now and when that happens you do start to feel the tension.

“We saw that on Saturday but the referee didn’t do us any favours at all.”

Southend are without a game this weekend as the second round of the National Cup takes place.

They do not enter until the third round stage and Green wants to make the most of the break.

“It’s a chance of us to rest up and have a talk about one or two things,” he said.

“We can go through things in training and clear our heads.

“Then we can go again and try to get this win we need.”

The Seasiders have now suffered five defeats in succession since beating Waterloo, the only team below them in the table.

They are now seven points from safety, if only three teams are to go down.

And Green his troops can come back with a bang when they host sixth placed Blaydon in their next match.

“We need to re-group and get ready for that game,” he said.

“We’re at home and we need to try and make the most of that advantage.”

Blaydon will go into the game having beaten Westcombe Park 35-22 on Saturday.

Southend: Hoult, Lewis, Sloane (McKeith 30), Green, Billings, Johnston, Powell (Cleare 15), North (Williams 56), Ferrier, Irvine (North 80, Cook, McClintock, Johnson, Gill (Waring 66), Braidwood