WESTCLIFF missed out on the chance to move up to sixth in the National Three London & SE standings after suffering a 50-12 defeat at home to Shelford.

Victory would have taken Westcliff above their Cambridgeshire opponents.

But Westcliff never looked like winning at the weekend after producing a poor display which disappointed their director of rugby Rick Compton.

“It was a poor result and a very frustrating performance,” said Compton.

“Two weeks ago we reached the break we had in good shape but desperate for a much needed week off.

“As it turns out we have come out the other side of that break with more injuries than we went into it with.

“Key players who were able to play were not available to train throughout the week and that, along with the enforced changes, showed from the outset.

“We were short on quality on Saturday and below the standards we have previously set and in the second half, as Shelford turned the screw, our heads went down.

“At the end of the day, it was a stark reminder that if you let your standards drop at this level you will get punished.

“But as long as we learn that lesson we can quickly put Saturday’s game to bed and move on not least because we have consistently demonstrated this season that we can compete and mix it with everyone in this league.

“Both messages will be to the forefront as we prepare for our visit to Dorking this weekend.”

Westcliff were required to ring the changes and draw heavily on the wider senior squad for this mid-table clash as the action resumed after a much needed rest week.

In the backs Jack Jones, whose season had already been confirmed as over, was joined on the injury list by the midfield pairing of Uta Tupuola and Jon Rudd who suffered a blow to the head while lining up for England Legends in Ireland.

Influential tight-head Ewan Binneman was also missing after suffering an injury in training and Westcliff found themselves 12-5 down at half-time.

Shelford played some very good rugby to get on top and scored two well-worked tries from deep while Westcliff huffed and puffed but had only a single Nick Bard try to show for their efforts, which were aided by a wind conservatively worth 20 points plus.

Having created the platform for themselves Shelford produced a strong second half performance and bagged six further tries, including a hat-trick for Tongan international winger Fetuli Paea as the wheels came off for the home side in disappointing fashion. James Scoggings responded with a single effort for the hosts.

Westcliff: Dudman, Roskams, Reynolds, Bard, Merrick, Whiting, Morrant, Hopkins, Lane, Edwards, Dartnell, Scoggings, Jobling, Vandermolen.

Replacements: Macintyre, Maloney & Marsh