WESTCLIFF secured a fourth win in succession, beating Chichester 33-5.

The victory kept Westcliff seventh in the National Three London & SE standings and delighted their director of rugby Rick Compton.

“It was another satisfying result and performance and the last month really couldn’t have gone any better for us,” said Compton.

“We’ve had four consecutive bonus point victories and a leap up the table to seventh place with a sense of security with five games to go which, if not guaranteed, is very comforting.

“It’s been tough but the lads have passed the test with flying colours and it puts us in a great position as we approach the final series of games.

“Not having had a break for several weeks due to fixture rearrangements the lads are a bit battle worn but before they are able to take a well-earned rest a trip to Guernsey and a new and even harder challenge awaits on Saturday.

“But we couldn’t be heading out there to meet it any happier.”

Westcliff were quickly on the front foot at the weekend and took the lead after just four minutes as Charlie Jobling grabbed the first try of the game.

However, Chichester showed they had not come to make up the numbers and produced a sustained period of pressure on and near the host’s line.

A series of thrusts through driving mauls and pick and goes were repelled forcibly by determined defence but not without falling foul of the referee and eventually prop Ewan Binneman paid the price when he was invited to take a 10 minute breather.

Chichester persevered and made the man advantage pay getting the right winger over in the corner to tie up the scores at 5-5.

The contest continued with the sides both pressing and defending hard when the opportunity or the need arose.

But Westcliff stepped up the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the half and were able to create two breakthroughs with tries from Binneman and Joe Vandermolen both created by sustained pressure and recycling on the visitors’ line.

Both tries were converted by Chris Dudman and the hosts led 19-5 at the break.

The second half was played mainly in the Chichester half but without any reward for the hosts whilst the visitors carried occasional threat without being able to take advantage.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes or so they began to flag a little and Westcliff were able to capitalise by scoring two further converted tries.

The first by James Scoggings and the last by Chris Marsh on the wing each as a result of controlled pressure applied by the home side.

Westcliff: Dudman, Marsh, Reynolds, Tupuola, Merrick, Whiting, Branch, Brown, Hopkins, Binneman, Darnell, Edwards, Scoggings, Jobling, Vandermolen. Replacements: Lane, Macintyre & Maloney