Conditions against Seasiders

1:34pm Tuesday 1st April 2008

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SOUTHEND skipper Andrew McClintock believes his side were punished for trying to play too much rugby in tricky conditions at Wharfedale on Saturday.

The Seasiders were looking to secure a third successive victory but instead slumped to 24-7 defeat in appalling wet weather.

"The conditions were horrendous and I think we tried to play as if it was dry," said McClintock.

"We were trying to pass the ball around like we would do normally but it was just impossible with the rain coming in down like it was.

"Maybe we should have tried to be less expansive and kept things more simple but we gave it a go and unfortunately it backfired a bit.

"We couldn't be faulted for effort but credit to Wharfedale because they made less mistakes than us and deserved the win."

Wharfedale's triumph saw them climb above Southend into seventh and they took the lead in the 11th minute with a try from Gavin Hindle.

The visitors hit back five minutes later with a try from Faapulou Soolefai, in his last game for the club, which was converted by Andrew Frost to put Kevin Harman's team 7-5 ahead.

Sadly that was the end of Southend's scoring as Wharfedale scored two more tries before the break with Rob Lednor and Robert Robert Baldwin both touching down.

The tries were converted by Andrew Baggett and with just minutes remaining the Yorkshire side extended their advantage even further with another try from dangerman Chris Malherbe.

"We did have some good passages of play but we didn't make the most of them," reflected McClintock.

"It was a sad way for Hats (Soolefai) to end his time with us because he's been brilliant. He settled in right away to become one of the lads and played some outstanding rugby while he was here too."

Life without Soolefai begins this Saturday as Southend travel to Eton Manor in the final of the Essex Cup.

"It will be a chance to blood some of our youngsters, It will be good for them to play in a final and we will be looking to see how they do as we look ahead to next season," he added.

Southend: Hoult, Lewis, Soolefai, Green, Frost, Johnston, Powell, Williams, Pay, Smith, McClintock, Waring, Gill, Johnson, Connors. Replacements: S Cook, North, Billings and Stanley.