SOUTHEND Saxons suffered defeat in their final home game of the National League Two South season, losing 28-0 to Bishop’s Stortford.

The setback heaped further misery on the already-relegated Saxons.

And back row Todd Bailey was a frustrated figure at the final whistle.

“It certainly wasn’t the most exciting game of rugby anyone would have ever seen," he said.

“The majority of the match seemed to consist of reset scrums due to a ref that was pretty incompetent at scrum time..

“But we were nowhere near as good as last week against Cambridge both with and without the ball."

And Bailey added: “Obviously it is massively disappointing to lose the last home game.

"But as has been the case for most of the season, we just weren’t clinical enough when we got down in their half.

“We had too many missed chances and the bounce of the rugby ball seems to have caught us out every time it has had the chance this season.”

The defeat was Southend’s sixth in succession and again saw Bailey lining up in a new role.

The 24-year-old started the campaign in his usual prop forward position.

But he is now being used in the back row.

“I’ve been playing at six in the last few games and it came about when we had a few must-win games a month or two ago,” said Bailey.

“We also had a few injuries to key players and the coaches wanted as much experience and as many older heads on the pitch as possible.

“The decision was made for me to play in the back row, which I didn’t have a problem with as I’ve always been quite quick for a prop," Bailey explained.

“Being in the back row means you can have a bit more involvement in open play because you aren’t as tired from the scrums!”

Southend now finish their National Two South season at Chinnor this weekend before turning their attention towards next term when they will be lining up in National Three London & SE league.

And Bailey believes it is important for Saxons to react strongly to suffering relegation.

“It is massively important to bounce back from this season and I think we will,” said Bailey.

“Southend, to me, have always been a national league club and I think a lot of people share that view as well as being the top rugby club in Essex.

“I think with a good core of the players staying from this season plus a few players coming in we will be more than suited to win the league below and get back to where we belong.," the Saxons player added.

Southend Saxons: Meads, Ashton, Gay, Vaughan, Cleare, Burr, Daly, Strachan, Bloomberg, Bevans-Royston, Barker, Chesney, Bailey, Morrison, Smith

Replacements: Day-White, Kirkbride, Twight, Haile and Legge.