Holloway: We made life easy for Dings (From Echo)

Holloway: We made life easy for Dings

7:02pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND head coach Andy Holloway felt his side handed an 18-8 victory to Dings Crusaders.

The Seasiders were 18-0 down at the break. And Holloway believes a high percentage of those points could have been avoided.

“Dings scored one well-worked try but 13 of the 18 points I would say we just handed to them,” said Holloway.

“We gave away some poor penalties and went against the game plan by playing too much too deep.

“The second half was better and some people played well, but it was too late by then.

“In those conditions being 18-0 down was the equivalent to being 25-0 down on a normal day and we gave ourselves too much to do.”

Dings went in front with a try from winger Sylvan Edwards in the eighth minute after Southend had coughed up possession in their own 22.

Mitch Burton added a penalty before he also converted a fine try from centre Marcus Brooker.

A further penalty from Burton increased Dings’ lead to 18-0 but Southend came out for the second half in a more positive frame of mind.

As a result, Simon Hoult kicked a penalty before the home side were reduced to 14 men when a player was yellow carded for repeat offending.

The Seasiders took advantage with Sam Arnott scoring a try for the third game in succession.

But it was too late to stop Southend suffering their seventh defeat in nine games.

Holloway’s side will be looking to get back to winning ways at home to Taunton on Saturday.

Southend: Vaughan, Billings, Ashton, Hoult, Driver, Burr, Arnott, Williams, Keenan, Guess, Waring, McClintock, Barker, Johnson, Van Der Molen.

Replacements: Bailey, Grier, Hudson, Freeman & Cleare.