SOUTHEND Saxons let slip a 15-0 lead to suffer a 28-15 defeat at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Saxons started the National Two South in impressive fashion before being overrun.

But their director of rugby Chris Green was keen to remain upbeat.

“The first half performance was probably the best we have played all season and we should have been further in front than we were,” said Green.

“Unfortunately, after that we were hit hard by injuries with Sam Fombo, Kris Chesney and Dylan Day-White all having to come off and it hit us hard.

“We were still in front until quite close to the end and I’ll certainly be looking at the positives of the first half.”

The defeat pushed Southend down to 10th in the National Two South standings.

But Green remains satisfied by his side’s start to the season.

“I think it’s been encouraging so far,” said Green.

“We’re at the half-way point now but the last few weeks haven’t really been good enough and we will need to push on again after Christmas.”

Despite the final score-line, Southend went in front after just seven minutes on Saturday when fly-half Brad Burr chipped the ball over the defence and followed up to touch down.

Burr also added the conversion before he also kicked a penalty to make it 10-0.

Saxons remained on top with another kick from Burr teeing up Mark Billings to score an unconverted try.

But the home-side soon began to hit back and a 38th minute try from Baxter Wilson which was converted by Tom Banks to cut Southend’s lead to 15-7 at half-time.

After the break, Stortford again drove Saxons back to enable Wilson score his second try of the afternoon and another Banks’ conversion cut Southend’s lead to just a single point.

However, the hosts remained on top and went in front for the first time 15 minutes from the end when the ball was spread right to Sam Winter to score.

Banks’ conversion made it 21-15 before Dom Morris’ try sealed victory for Bishop’s Stortford with Banks again added the extras to complete a miserable afternoon for Southend as they sunk to their fourth defeat in five games.

Southend Saxons: Meads, Driver, Billings, Vaughan, Bolton, Burr, Daly, Bailey, Day-White, Bevans-Royston, Chesney, Twight, Fombo, Shields, Hudson

Replacements: Strachan, Grier, Morrison, Smith & Hoadley