HARRY Branch was left feeling frustrated following Southend Saxons’ 18-10 defeat at Amersham & Chiltern.

The setback was Southend’s third in succession.

But scrum half Branch felt it was a clash Southend could well have won.

“Saturday’s game for me was a tricky one to pin down,” said Branch.

“I felt we could have won the game had we been slightly more composed and taken our chances when we put pressure on them.

“Obviously, losing is always a frustrating thing to stomach and we’re all striving to be better every week as a group.

“Nobody was happy with the outcome of the game.

“But everyone came away from it ready to work harder than ever this week at training.”

The defeat saw Southend stay ninth in the London One North standings.

But Branch insists Saxons will be determined to bounce back when they host seventh-placed Old Priorians this weekend.

“Lessons are always learnt when you fail and last weekend we did not perform to our full potential and we all know that,” said Branch.

“The lessons will also be learnt from the video and a very hard working training week.

“This weekend we will be looking to provide the performance we’re all striving towards as a group.

“I’m 100 per cent confident the whole squad will be firing on Saturday because we will be looking to show what we can achieve together.”

Southend Saxons: Sexton, O’Brien, Banks, Vaughan, Day, Hoult, Branch, Cooper, Grier, Smith, Newton, O’Kill, Gemmell, Morrison, Wagstaff

Replacements: Campbell-Webster, Forster-Knight & Ramsey

>Thurrock’s five match winning run was ended by a 55-33 defeat at Medway in London One South.

The setback keeps Thurrock fifth in the standings, two placed below their hosts.

In London Two North East, Basildon’s struggles continued with a 39-24 defeat against Saffron Walden.

Basildon remain bottom of the table, with South Woodham Ferrers ninth following their narrow 31-29 defeat at Southwold.

In London Three Essex, Canvey Island lost 27-7 at Chelmsford.