CANVEY Island secured a 36-33 win at bottom of the table Mavericks.

The win kept Canvey fifth in the London Three Essex standings.

But club spokesman Richard Smith was not entirely satisfied with the display.

"Although not our best performance this season this was a well-earned win,” said Smith.

“The boys who stepped up put in good performances and the ones playing out of their normal positions justified the coaches’ belief in them.

“It was a good team performance.”

In the first half, the Islanders played down the slope and went in front with tries from Brett Smith, Harry Atkins, Dan Bracknell and Jason Fardell.

Charlie Clarke added three conversions and a penalty but Canvey did not have it all their own away with Mavericks scoring three converted tries of their own.

Canvey led 29-21 at half-time but began to get more on top during the second period with Bracknell scoring his second try of the game.

Clarke added the conversion before Mavericks – who had already lost one prop, were forced to withdraw another with a groin problem which made the scrums uncontested.

That led to Mavericks putting Canvey on the back foot and the hosts scored two tries during a spell of pressure.

However, after that, Canvey stood firm to secure another win.