SOUTHEND Saxons suffered opening day disappointment, losing 27-12 at Eton Manor.

Southend led 12-10 at half-time of the London One North clash but failed to score in the second half, much to the frustration of their hooker Nik Grier.

“It was very frustrating and it still hurts now,” said Grier.

“With the talent we’ve got in this team it’s hard to accept that we came off second best.”

Summer signing Sam Hampson bagged two tries for Southend at the weekend, while Ross Stalley added a conversion during a promising first half performance.

But the second half was far less impressive.

“In the first half we played with the tempo we’ve been working on in pre-season but the second half was a totally different story and we didn’t look after the ball,” said Grier.

“The most frustrating thing about the whole game was we had all the possession and the points were there to be taken but we didn’t capitalise on it.

“No disrespect to Eton Manor, but they didn’t create anything and they scored their points off our own silly mistakes, which was disappointing.”

Southend - who were relegated from the London & SE Premier Division last season - host Rochford Hundred in a local derby this weekend.

Southend Saxons: Ramsey, Yeomans, Banks, Vaughan, Hampson, Stalley, Branch, Armitage, Grier, Campbell-Webster, McClintock, Newton, Morrison, Forster-Knight, Wagstaff

Replacements: Butt, Wood & Hoult