WESTCLIFF’S director of rugby Rick Compton was left disappointed after seeing his side slip to a 27-22 defeat at Sutton & Epsom.

Westcliff went into the game in the unusual position of favourites after securing four wins in their last five matches.

But they were unable to keep the good run going, much to the frustration of Compton.

“To be honest it was a disappointing performance from us,” said Compton, whose side are ninth in the National Three London & SE.

“We didn’t ever play as well as we are capable of or at the levels we have reached in recent weeks.

“Sutton can take some credit for that and were good value for their win which they thoroughly deserved.

“I thought we just about deserved our bonus point but certainly nothing else.

“We were missing a couple of key players.

“But that is something we need to be able to cope with and indeed will have to in the immediate future.

“Happily there was no hiding from that in the group at the end of the game and it was recognised that we underperformed.

“Fortunately there will be no better opportunity for the team to prove they can do so than in Saturday’s local clash at home to Southend Saxons.”

Sutton, who are now 10th in the table, opened the scoring with a penalty at the weekend before the hosts scored their first try of the afternoon, which was soon followed by another penalty after only a few minutes of the match.

Another unconverted try increased Sutton’s lead before fly-half Jack Jones got Westcliff off the mark with a well-taken penalty which cut the home side’s advantage to 20-3.

A try from Jim Smith, which was converted by Jones, cut the lead even further.

But Sutton - who also beat Southend at the end of November - raced further in front with another try at the start of the second half to make it 27-10.

However, Westcliff dug deep and were able to rally late on with Uta Tupuola and Rupert Edwards both scoring tries, the last of which was converted by Jones, to secure a bonus point defeat for the visitors.

Westcliff: Dudman, Reynolds, Tupuola, Bard, Merrick, Jones, Lane, Hopkins, Binneman, Scoggings, Edwards, Jobling, Marsh, Maloney.

Replacements: Skidmore, Macintyre & Smith