WESTCLIFF stormed back to winning ways with a 39-0 win against Sidcup at the Gables.

Westcliff - who are third in the London & SE Premier Division standings - had suffered a shock defeat at Chingford in their previous outing.

And director of rugby Rick Compton was delighted to get back on track in his team’s final outing of 2018.

“It was an excellent response to a below par performance at Chingford and a fitting way to bring the curtain down on league rugby for 2018,” said Compton.

“Sidcup contributed fully to the game but we punished their errors and converted the opportunities we created effectively.

“We left points out there too but we scored at the right times, after two minutes during a card, right on half-time and right after half-time.

“Turning the scoreboard over regularly allowed us to play with freedom and that is when the lads are at their best.”

And Compton is already looking forward to resuming the season in the New Year.

“The second half of the season in the New Year is one that we can attack once rested and refreshed with renewed vigour and we will aim to enjoy it to the fullest,” said Compton.

“This was a good way to finish before the break too.”

Westcliff had the advantage of the wind at their backs for the first period and were on the scoreboard inside the opening two minutes through livewire half back Jake Spivey, who wriggled through a gap and left defenders chasing thin air.

Sidcup adopted a pragmatic but effective tight game into the wind and enjoyed a period of territorial advantage and sustained pressure which Westcliff repelled, albeit at the expense of a yellow card for an act of petulance by Joe Vandermolen.

Their response was to march upfield and add a second try through Jim Smith before Rory Lane also touched down to make it 17-0.

However, the game was effectively won in the opening 10 minutes of the second half with two quickfire tries. Smith scored his second of the afternoon before Billy Morrant also touched down.

That put Westcliff 27-0 in front and the hosts sealed their win with late tries from Vandermolen and Greg Bannister while also keeping Sidcup out at the other end.

Westcliff: J Jones, S Brown, Stol, R Smith, Merrick, Mckeith, Spivey, Weston, B Morrant, Lane, Scogings, Edwards, Vandermolen, Hatton, J Smith

Replacements: Bannister, H Morrant & Marsh