HIGH-FLYING Westcliff suffered a shock 21-8 defeat at struggling Chingford.

Westcliff, who went into the game sitting second in the London & SE Premier Division standings, would have been confident of seeing off their second from bottom hosts.

But Westcliff produced a below par performance, much to the frustration of their director of rugby Rick Compton.

“This was a very irritating performance and our worst for quite some while,” said Compton.

“Conditions were unpleasant and difficult but they were not a surprise and we didn’t play them or the opposition well or even how we talked about.

“We were much better in the second half but couldn’t make it count and suffered a bit of a sucker punch at the death.

“For the first time I felt we missed a few of the absent players which included some of our hardest carriers as we struggled to get over the gain line and the game plan went a little off message.

“But Chingford were worth the win and good luck to them but at the moment we are playing well every other week we can and must do better.”

Westcliff started the game lethargically while the hosts - who were happier than the visitors to embrace the conditions - had a greater intensity.

In the opening 25 minutes they enjoyed the majority of possession and territory and were able to convert this through a try and two penalties into an 11-0 lead which in the conditions was significant.

Gradually the visitors gained a foothold in the game and were rewarded with a try by Billy Morrant at the end of the half which brought them to within a score with the second period to come.

By now though the pitch was deteriorating by the minute and any effort to play expansive rugby was doomed to spectacular failure.

A tight game played itself out with Westcliff now having a much firmer grip on proceedings.

Their best efforts though failed through a combination of poor execution, appalling conditions and a dogged committed defence.

Chances came and went until the final few minutes of the game before Chingford kicked a penalty to make it 14-5.

Westcliff replied with a penalty of their own before the hosts hit back with a controversial late try to seal with their shock win.

Westcliff: Spivey, Brown, Stol, J Jones, O Jones, McKeith, H Morrant, Weston, B Morrant, Lane, Scogings, Edwards, Marsh, Hatton, Dellas.

Replacements: Binstead, Anderson-Brown & Merrick