MICHAEL Guess made a winning return to action as he came out of retirement to help Southend Saxons beat Chinnor 18-14 at Warners Bridge on Saturday.

The powerful prop forward opted to stop playing National League rugby for a second time at the end of the season.

But he was persuaded to return by Southend’s director of rugby Chris Green.

And Guess, who played the final half an hour of the game, thoroughly enjoyed his return.

“Getting back out there again made me realise how much I had missed it and it was great to help the team get a good win,” said the 31-year-old.

“I always thinking about coming back to play next year and Chris gave me a call to find out if I wanted to return a bit earlier.

“He explained how Todd Bailey had gone back to Australia and that he would like me in and around the squad.

“To be honest, Chris is a bit like Audley Harrison and he just keeps going and going until he gets what he wants!

“I spoke it over with my wife and, now the children are a little bit older, we agreed it was OK to get back playing again.”

Guess had played sparingly for South Woodham Ferrers in London Two North East at the start of the season.

But he has trained with them on a more consistent basis and therefore still feels in fine shape.

“I did pre-season with Woodham and had been training once a week so I feel fine,” said Guess.

“It’s just getting used to things here again and one or two of the calls have changed.

“However, there’s a really good atmosphere around the place with the team winning the last three games and hopefully we can keep that going.”

Southend started strongly at the weekend and went in front, after just six minutes, when Sam Fombo collected a pass from Rhys Powell and charged through to score his first try of the season.

Brad Burr added the conversion before Chinnor drew back level with a try from scrum half Frank Jones which was converted by Edward Keohane.

However, Saxons soon went back in front when winger Billy Driver bagged an excellent individual try and Burr soon kicked a penalty to put the hosts 15-7 up at half-time.

After the break, Chinnor – who started the afternoon in fifth – began to impress and their pressure was rewarded in the 55th minute when referee Alexis Manley awarded them a penalty try which Keohane converted to bring the visitors to within a point of Southend.

But Burr soon eased Southend further ahead with another well taken penalty and, with Chinnor’s number eight Alfie Vaeluaga being yellow carded in the closing stages, Saxons were able to use their numerical advantage to come out on top.

The win kept Southend 13th in the National Two South standings but they are now seven points above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash against Lydney, the team immediately below them in the table.

Southend Saxons: Meads, Driver, Nash, Vaughan, Cleare, Burr, Powell, Fardell, Ferrier, Bevans-Royston, Jackson, Chesney, Fombo, Hudson, Legge

Replacements: Strachan, Shields, Guess, Pollard & Bloomberg