SOUTHEND Saxons kicked off their National Three London & SE season with a convincing 45-0 defeat at Tonbridge Juddians on Saturday.

Southend - who were relegated from National Two South last term - had been hopeful of getting off to a successful start against their highly-rated hosts.

But, despite the setback, Saxons fly-half Tom Ashton remains confident of enjoying a good season.

“Our hopes for this season are to finish at the top of the pile and despite the poor result at the weekend we are all still focused on the goals we set ourselves,” said Ashton.

“If we achieve them and work hard for each other then we won’t be too far away come the end of the season.”

Southend - who had 11 players in their starting line-up from last term - will now be looking to bounce back at home to local rivals Westcliff this weekend.

And Ashton insists Saxons cannot wait for the game to get underway at their Warners Bridge home..

“As individuals and as a group we are very determined to put it right on Saturday and it would have been like that whoever we had been playing,” said the former Rochford Hundred player.

“But with the game being against another local club it does add something extra to the fixture.”

Southend also handed a first team debut to 17-year-old Seevic student Tom Ramsey at the weekend. Ramsey came off the bench to replace Iain Meads in the second half.

Southend: Meads, Andrews, Cleare, Vaughan, Shields, Ashton, O’Brien, Strachan, Bloomberg, Bailey, Barker, Leavasu, Smith, Morrison, Legge. Replacements: Smith, Ramsey & Morgan