SOUTHEND Saxons were left ruing a slow start after suffering a 31-25 defeat at Guildford.

Southend found themselves 24-0 down inside the opening 22 minutes of the game.

And Saxons head coach Josh Ward felt the first half performance was the worst of the season so far.

“Individually and collectively I thought we put in our worst 40 minutes so far,” said Ward.

“It was very uncharacteristic and hugely frustrating.

“But the pleasing thing was the way we responded in the second half.

“We didn’t let any rockets off at half-time but some blunt words were spoken.

“We asked the players for a reaction in the second half and we got one.

“The way the momentum had switched I think we could have won if the game had gone on for another five minutes.

“But we shot ourselves in the foot with the start we made and it’s frustrating because we’re coming away thinking what if.

“We’ve got two points but we should really have got five.”

Southend - who sit second from bottom in the London & SE Premier Division standings - got off the mark in the first half with a penalty from new fly-half Matt Navas.

A try from Chris Shields cut Guildford’s lead to 24-10 at half-time and Southend scored first at the start of the second period, with Franco Maggiolo touching down.

Ninth placed Guildford replied with another try to lead 31-15 heading into the final 10 minutes when Southend began to fight back.

Prop forward Paddy Briggs and Maggiolo both touched down in quick succession but Southend were unable to complete a late comeback as Guildford clung on to clinch victory.

Southend will now be bidding to bounce back at home to Shelford on Saturday as they look to boost their survival hopes.

Southend Saxons: Barton, Radzevicius, Murphy, Vaughan, O’Brien, Navas, Sprangers, Briggs, Robinson, Campbell-Webster, Wood, Maggiolo, Read, Morrison, Shields

Replacements: Forster-Knight, Newton & Ramsey