TODD Bailey scored his first Southend Saxons try since returning from a season Down Under to secure a 29-25 win at Canterbury on Saturday.

The 24-year-old loose-head prop touched down six minutes from time to condemn Canterbury to their first defeat of the season.

And Bailey believes he is now reaping the benefits of playing in both Australia and New Zealand last year.

“Last season I was in Sydney playing rugby and then went over to New Zealand for a couple months and also played over there,” said the Rayleigh based Bailey.

“It's very good to see and experience the difference in style of play over there.

“They certainly play a more running and less structured kind of rugby there which definitely improved me as player because you have a lot more opportunity to get your hands on the ball and run with it in open play.

“But I’m enjoying being back now and it was very pleasing to get the win because Canterbury has always been a tough place to go.”

Southend raced into a 12-0 lead with back row Harry Hudson and scrum half Jack Daly both touching down.

Burr converted Daly’s effort before Canterbury hit back with James Green and Guy Hilton both scoring tries.

Ollie Best added both conversions and a penalty to put the Kent club 17-12 in front at half-time.

After the break, Mason Rosvall also touched down for Canterbury before Southend replied with Chris Vaughan scoring a try which Burr again converted.

However, Best hit back with another penalty to put the home-side 25-19 in front with just 10 minutes of the match remaining.

But a try from Saxons full-back Iain Meads brought the visitors to within a point of Canterbury before Bailey’s late try made sure of Southend’s first away win of the season.

The victory moved Chris Green’s side up to ninth in the table ahead of Saturday’s clash against table topping Taunton at Warners Bridge.

Southend: Meads, Driver, Gay, Vaughan, Cleare, Burr, Daly, Strachan, Grier, Bevans-Royston, Barker, Fombo, Needham, Hudson, Twight Replacements: Bailey, Day-White, Morrison, Ashton & Branch