TABLE-TOPPING Basildon made it seven wins in a row with a 31-7 triumph at Canvey Island.

The victory kept Basildon three points clear at the top of the London Three Essex standings.

And first team manager Mark Farrell felt his side were on top form.

“In the context of the game, it was probably our best performance of the season so far,” said Farrell.

“The boys were up against an abrasive, ill-disciplined Canvey side, yet we maintained our composure, stuck to our game plan and once we got in front we did not hold back and scored some very well made tries.

“We go into the Christmas break top of the league and I could not be prouder of this team and this club.”

And Basildon skipper Jim Harman echoed those sentiments.

“I’m extremely happy to get to the turn of the year top of the table,” said Harman.

“Come January we will be looking forward to the big challenge of title rivals Millwall coming to play us at home and it’s good to have got another win before facing them.

“We entered the game in far from ideal circumstances as we were missing some players who have been key for us in other games this season but we’ve developed a mentality of ‘next man up’ and that was very much the case on Saturday.

“The players that came in - Michael James, Elliott Williams and Tom Dewey - did everything asked of them, which is going to give us some tough selection decisions come January, but this was a good win.”

And Harman claimed Basildon were fired up by an incident missed by the referee which led to his team-mate Tom Einchcomb leaving the pitch unconscious.

“I won’t comment on the serious foul play issue that was missed by the match official, however, I must say this galvanised us further as a team,” said Harman.

“Our second half performance was disciplined, direct and executed superbly.”

Brad Long set Basildon on their way with the game’s first try at the weekend, with fly-half Sam Ridley adding the conversion.

Canvey hit back with a try of their own from Alfie Justice when Basildon were reduced to 14 men but the hosts were then shown the first of their three yellow cards, which enabled the visitors to get back on top.

That resulted in Richard Heywood, Daniel Rowley, Ian Stewart and Jon Berry all bagging tries, with the rest of the points coming from the boot of the ever-reliable Ridley.