SOUTHEND Saxons winger Danny Cleare is determined to make the new National Two South season far more successful than the last.

Southend avoided relegation on points difference on the final day of the previous campaign while the normally prolific Cleare failed to score a single try all season.

And the 28-year-old is looking for vast improvements this time around, starting with victory against Chinnor at Warners Bridge tomorrow.

“Last year just never really got going for me and it was disappointing for the team as well so we want it to be much better this season,” said Cleare.

“As a team we need to be looking to finish in the top half of the table and I’ll obviously be hoping to get more tries.

“In our pre-season games we played more of an exciting and expansive style and scored 19 tries in three matches.

“I scored a couple myself last weekend against London Irish Wild geese and hopefully we can all build on that now.”

However, Chinnor will provide a stern opening test after finishing sixth in the standings last season.

And the clash will also see impressive number eight Joe Vandermolen return to his former club after he opted to join the South Oxfordshire side after three seasons with Bedford.

“It will be good playing up against Vander again and Chinnor are making a lot of noise it seems,” said Cleare.

“We need to put him in his place!”

Southend will be missing experienced skipper Kris Chesney who has a calf problem while back row Daniel Legge is getting married and will also miss the match.

However, new signings front row Nik Grier, back rows Krijn Twight and James Needham plus scrum half Jack Daly are all likely to be involved.

And director of rugby Chris Green is keen to get off to a good start.

“We’ve had the best pre-season we’ve had in years but now we need to take that into the league now,” said Green.

“It’s a tough start to the season but I think that will suit us and we had a good record at home against the top teams last year too.”