WESTCLIFF started the new year in fine fashion with a shock 16-9 win against Hertford in National Three London & SE.

Hertford went in to the game on the back of seven successive wins which had seen them rise to fifth in the table.

But they were unable to keep their good run going against a determined Westcliff side who are now just a point away from escaping the relegation zone, much to the delight of their first team manager Rick Compton.

“It was another tough game as they all are at this level but the conditions added another dimension,” said Compton.

“In truth we came to terms with them better than Hertford and were full value for the win.

“The lads deserve huge credit for the way they applied themselves and for putting the off colour performance at Gravesend to bed so quickly.

“It leaves us in good shape for our game at Amersham next week and with the gap between the bottom five sides closing it’s going to be an absorbing second half of the season.”

Persistent rain had made the Gables’ pitch wet and heavy and the constant drizzle as kick off approached saw conditions deteriorate further.

Nevertheless the referee and both sides agreed the pitch was playable and although conditions were poor there was no significant advantage in ends.

Westcliff kicked off and were soon onto the front foot forcing what was to be the game’s only try as early as the fifth minute.

From a midfield penalty they kicked to touch and from the resultant line-out drove a maul deep into the Hertford 22.

With the visiting defence back-pedalling, the ball was shifted through hands to Isaiah Manea who was held up under the posts but was able to smuggle a clever off load to the supporting George Parmenter and he grounded the ball unopposed.

Jack Jones added the conversion and Westcliff had an early 7-0 lead.

The next 25 minutes saw a contest that was intense and committed with Hertford edging ahead 9-7 through three hard earned and well struck penalties at 7-9.

But that was as good as it get for Hertford who were unable to break the shackles of a committed home team who had the better of the kicking exchanges and reasserted themselves before half time with two Jones penalties in the final 10 minutes of the half.

Westcliff were now 13-9 in front but the second half started badly with hooker Jack Hopkins went off injured and skipper Ian Dartnell was soon yellow carded.

However, Westcliff not only repelled every attack from Hertford but they also secured and converted a penalty to re-establish a 7 point lead at 16-9.

Ahead by a score and back to full strength Westcliff enjoyed territorial advantage and pressed hard for a score to make the game safe for most of the final 15 minutes.

But, despite not adding any more points, the home-side were still able to hang on and secure a vital victory in their bid to avoid relegation.

Westcliff: Argentieri, Dudman, Parmenter, Manea, B Reynolds, Jones, Morrant, Brown, Hopkins, Binneman, Barnett, Dartnell, Anderson-Brown, Scoggins, S Reynolds.

Replacements: Whiting, Smith & Bannister.