WESTCLIFF trounced Southend Saxons 52-0 in a one-sided local derby at Warners Bridge.

The visitors ran in eight tries to record a comfortable London & SE Premier Division triumph.

And Westcliff’s director of rugby Rick Compton was quick to praise his team’s performance.

“We played very well indeed, on Saturday, as a team and as 18 individuals,” said Compton.

“As a coaching and management group we couldn’t have been happier with how the lads performed.

“The energy and physicality were exactly what was required and what we called for.

“The forwards were outstanding and their dominance provided the platform for the victory.

"We scored some excellent tries from all areas of the team and, despite leaving a few points out on the park, were clinical in our finishing.

“When called upon to defend, even when well ahead, we refused to buckle and not conceding was also very satisfying.

“Pleasingly, the lads that came back in after time out were up to speed and justified their selection and with the Lions also winning by 50 points in the earlier game we have confidence in both our quality and depth.”

Westcliff - who also beat Southend 69-5 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season - now sit fifth in the league table.

And they opened the scoring with a try from winger Ross Merrick at the weekend before Joe Vandermolen also barged through to score.

Southend - who had injuries to contend with in the front five - were then hindered by a yellow card and Westcliff soon took advantage with another try from Vandermolen.

Merrick then also completed his own double and Jack Jones’ subsequent conversion put Westcliff 26-0 in front at half-time.

After the break, Chris Marsh extended the visitors’ lead with another try before Jack Jones, Sam Brown and Seb Reynolds also touched down to complete a thumping win which saw Southend slip down to second from bottom in the standings.

But Saxons head coach Josh Ward insisted his side still have plenty to fight for.

“It was a game between two sides at very different points of their journey,” said Ward.

“We came up against a very well oiled machine and I thought Westcliff were excellent.

"We struggled to get any momentum throughout the game in and around the collision area. It was one of those days and we lost a number of senior players throughout due to injuries, which didn’t help.

“But nobody wins anything in December and nobody goes down in December either. We will lick our wounds, manage and rest and regroup ahead of an exciting January.”

Southend Saxons: Joel, Barton, Murphy, Vaughan, O’Brien, Ramsey, Sprangers, Lopez, Bloomberg, Bailey, Wood, Maggiolo, Cann, Morrison, Shields

Replacements: Forster-Knight, Read & Radzevicius

Westcliff: Spivey, S Brown, Stol, R Smith, Merrick, Jones, Branch, C Brown, Hopkins, Binneman, Scogings, Edwards, J Smith, Marsh, Vandermolen

Replacements: Morrant, Maloney & Reynolds