HARRY Branch has returned to Westcliff but was unable to stop them suffering a 43-10 defeat at table-topping Tonbridge Juddian.

The 22-year-old scrum half came through the youth ranks at the Gables before opting to join Southend.

But he has now gone back to the National Three London & South East club in pursuit of first team rugby.

“The move came around from not getting game time at Southend,” explained Branch.

“I know Westcliff from being there as a youth player so I asked about moving back so I can play first team rugby.

“It feels good to be back as well.

“I know quite a few people within the team from my old college Seevic and I also played for the Aaron Lewis 10s team in the summer which a lot of the boys are involved in, so it’s been easy to settle back in.”

Branch left Westcliff when aged 16 having captained their youth team to Essex Cup glory.

And he is now keen to stop the club suffering relegation following their sixth defeat in seven matches.

“The game at the weekend was tough,” said Brach.

“It was a nice welcome back, playing the team top of the league away from home!

"The game could have been much closer but, at the moment, we need to fix a few small elements and we will really put a lot of points on someone.”

That never looked like happening at Tonbridge though as the hosts raced into a 19-0 lead with a trio of tries.

Sam Reynolds replied with a try for Westcliff before the hosts responded with two more tries of their own to lead 31-5 at half-time.

Tonbridge scored another brace after the break before Reece Whiting touched down for Westcliff in the final score of the game.

And Westcliff’s first team manager Rick Compton was full of praise for the home-side.

“Tonbridge demonstrated why they sit at the top of league with their noses ahead of a clutch of well-resourced and ambitious clubs,” said Compton.

“We put in a lot of effort but were unable to put onto the park a side that match their quality and experience and there is no shame in that.

"However the manner in which some of the tries were conceded was disappointing and it has been happening too often.

“We must become harder to score against or our season will end in disappointment. “

Westcliff remain third from bottom in the standings but are now nine points from safety after victories for relegation rivals Colchester and Chichester.

Westcliff: B Reynolds, Boughtwood, O’Brien, Whiting, Merrick, Dudman, Branch, Weston, Mackintyre, Whitmore, Scoggins, Edwards, Meredith, Marsh, S Reynolds

Replacements: Miller, Smith & Bartlett.