WESTCLIFF’S winless start to the season stretched to a seventh game as they sunk to a narrow 21-20 defeat to Colchester in National Three London & SE on Saturday.

Westcliff had been hoping to secure their first victory of the campaign against their long-standing rivals who won promotion last term.

But Westcliff’s first team manager Rick Compton was left hugely frustrated at the final whistle.

“It was a hugely disappointing display that leaves us looking a long way up the table,” said Compton, whose side remain second from bottom in the standings.

“There is a long way to go in the season but we have to find a way to win these close games.

“On Saturday, although we came close to winning and could and should have done so, certain areas of our game were really poor.

“The lads know that without being told, which is encouraging, but they are the only ones that can put it right on the pitch and must try to do so before the season slips away from them.”

Colchester opened the scoring with a penalty at the weekend before Westcliff hit back with a try from Ewan Binneman to lead 5-3.

However, Colchester were soon back on the front foot aided by set piece dominance and an attack brought reward when a clever offload allowed their winger time and space to cross the line.

With the visitors now 10-5 in front, the game continued to be end to end before Westcliff’s Conor O’Brien touched down on his return to the team to level the scores.

Colchester regained the lead with a penalty but, as the half came to a close, O’Brien scored again after a charge down to enable the hosts to hold a 17-13 lead at the break.

Colchester replied at the start of the second half when a penalty was taken quickly by the visiting scrum half who scampered away from cover to score in the corner as the lead again changed heads.

But Westcliff replied 15 minutes from time when a penalty from Jack Jones put the home-side 20-18 in front.

Westcliff soon returned to Colchester territory and hammered away close to their line but poor decision making and execution led to them failing to take further points.

Frustrating infringements allowed Colchester to exit from their own danger zone and then force themselves into the home side’s 22 where they launched a controlled set of drives as time ebbed away.

A penalty was conceded under the posts and a yellow card followed for Sam Reynolds who left the field knowing there was no time to return as the kick was converted to give a single point victory to the visitors.

Westcliff: Ansell, Merrick, B Reynolds, O’Brien, Dudman, Jones, Parmenter, Brown, Maloney, Binneman, Scoggins, Roberts, Marsh, Meredith, S Reynolds.

Replacements: Lane, Smith & R Whiting