WESTCLIFF remain in the bottom three after suffering a 22-13 defeat against Chichester in National Three London & SE.

Westcliff had fought back to cut the visitors’ lead from 17 points down to just four as the game entered its closing stages at the Gables.

But Chichester bagged a late try to make sure of the win and leave Westcliff’s first team manager Rick Compton a frustrated figure at the final whistle.

“We got back to within four points of Chichester as the game entered the final 15 minutes and the momentum was really with us at that stage,” said Compton.

“Chichester were rattled but they survived and in the game’s last meaningful act secured a try scoring bonus point while also wrenching a losing bonus point from our grasp at the same time.

“Conceding the late try was certainly frustrating and we have lost ground on some of the teams around us.

“But we cannot and will not dwell on it.

“Our full focus is already on next week’s game at Gravesend.”

Westcliff were competitive early on as they attempted to secure a third successive home win.

But it was Chichester who scored first with an unconverted try to lead 5-0.

Moments later, there seemed little danger when Westcliff had the feed at a scrum midway in their own half but disaster struck when Chichester’s scrum half pounced on a loose ball and made ground down the short side before teeing up his winger who had enough space and time to dash home under the posts.

That put the visitors 12-0 up at the break and it was them who scored first in the second half with another unconverted try.

But Westcliff soon hit back and a forceful break from Seb Reynolds saw him run under the posts for a try which was also converted to cut Chichester’s lead to 17-7.

Two penalty kicks then narrowed the advantage to 17-13 but Westcliff were unable to score again and Chichester made sure of the win when their scrum half glided through to secure victory for his side.

Westcliff: Argentieri, Merrick, O’Brien, Mamea, Dudman, Bannister, Jones J, Skidmore, Hopkins, Binneman, Dartnell, Barnett, Anderson-Brown, Scoggins, Reynolds.

Replacements: Dellas, Smith & Sigwart.