TABLE-TOPPING Basildon triumphed 29-0 at Upminster but they were made to work hard for their second bonus point win of the season.

In the first half Basildon played with the wind and the slope but despite having complete control in the tight struggled to get across the home side's try line.

There was a stream of dropped passes and missed tackles and it was Upminster who looked the better side for long periods of the half.

Basildon managed only two tries one from John Hickey and one from Mathew Bryan who was scoring his fourth try in two games.

The teams turned at 10-0 to the visitors and Basildon supporters feared the worst.

But Basildon were a different team in the second period and treated the crowd to a lesson of how to play in to a wind and slope.

They retained possession and drove and ran into the home defence to great effect.

Upminster were allowed little of the ball and on the rare occasions they were near the Basildon line The visitors’ defence was sound but Reece Cunningham scored a try.

Jim Harmon also scored following a superb 22 to 22 break by John Hickey and Daniel dieu de Bellefontaine completed the try scoring in the last minute.

Ellis Goldsmith picked up two conversions.

It was not such a good day for South Woodham Ferrers though as they were beaten 31-27 at home to Mersea Island.