Mac’s parents sent packing following Southend mauling (From Echo)

Mac’s parents sent packing following Southend mauling

5:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

SOUTHEND’S Liam MacGeachy has banned his parents from watching any more of his matches this season, after they witnessed the Seasiders’ disappointing 38-6 defeat at Launceston on Saturday.

To make matters worse for the Australian centre, he suffered a split eyebrow and a torn hamstring during the game.

And his mum and dad have now returned home.

“It was the first game they have seen this season and I think it will be the last after that,” said MacGeachy.

“I’ve had no dramas all year up until now and I got injured twice in the same game.

“They came over to watch having been in Scotland for a few days but I put them on the first flight back home because they didn’t bring me much luck at all.

“The eye isn’t too bad now but hopefully my hamstring will only keep me out for two or three weeks and I can soon be back out there again.”

Southend’s defeat was their third in succession and saw them slip down to third from the bottom in the National Two South table.

But MacGeachy remains confident of turning things around.

“We have the players and the ability in our team but we just aren’t getting the results,” said the 24-year-old.

“We need to start getting the little things right and putting together phases of play, but I’m sure that will happen.”

Southend were initially on top at the weekend and they went in front inside the opening two minutes when Jack Jones kicked a penalty.

In reply, Kieron Lewitt levelled the score with a penalty of his own before the home side were reduced to 14 men when Mike Rawlings was sin-binned.

Jones put the Seasiders back in front with another penalty but that proved to be Southend’s final points of the game.

Launceston picked up the pace and Ben Hilton touched down for a try before Lewitt added a conversion and three penalties to put the hosts 19-6 in front at half-time.

After the break, Toby Barrow, James Tipcony and Lewis Paterson also went through for tries and, with Lewitt adding two more conversions, the Seasiders found themselves on the receiving end of a disappointing result.

Southend are without a game this weekend but will return to action the following Saturday with a trip to Bournemouth, who are two places higher than the Seasiders.

Southend: Burr, Driver, Vaughan, MacGeachy, Cleare, Jones, Sansom, Bailey, Keenan, Irvine, Cook, McClintock, Barker, L Guess, Hudson.

Replacements: Strachan, Ox, Ashton, Reed & Gay.