SOUTHEND Saxons will be bidding to bounce back from a painful defeat when they head to Sudbury tomorrow.

A last-gasp penalty saw Southend lose 24-21 to Colchester last time out.

And Saxons scrum-half Harry Branch is keen for Josh Ward’s side to show a positive reaction this weekend.

“I’m sure everyone will be looking to make right what happened at the weekend in the upcoming game,” said Branch.

“We have to get our small things and processes right first.

“But if we manage that the result will come our way.”

Southend started the season with three successive victories before suffering back-to-back defeats, the second of which came against Colchester.

And Branch remains disappointed by the setback.

“It was hugely frustrating to lose against Colchester on Saturday,” said Branch.

“The positive thing for me from the weekend was that we did put together some great rugby.

“But the frustrating point was that we didn’t play to our potential in the last quarter of the game, which ultimately cost us the match.

“It was tough to take but we have to look ahead to the weekend now and the game we have at Sudbury.”

Southend now sit fourth in the London One North standings, five points below the top two.

But Branch remains convinced Saxons have what it takes to push for promotion this season.

“Everyone’s bought into what we want to achieve this year,” said the scrum-half.

“Our priors team at the weekend had a winning result and we unfortunately lost narrowly in the last minute of the game against a strong side.

“But the point I’m trying to make is that we’re on the right path and we need to keep pushing forward towards our ultimate goal of promotion this year.”

And Branch is keen to prove that again at the weekend.

“This weekend I’m expecting us to continue playing with confidence,” said Branch.

“I’m looking for us to be professional in what we do and get the outcome we want to achieve off the back of that.”

Sudbury head into the game sitting second from bottom in the standings having triumphed just once in their first five games of the season.

>Thurrock head to Belsize Park in London One South tomorrow.

T’s are currently ninth in the table after three defeats in five games.

But they will be bidding to secure another victory when they travel to fifth-placed Belsize this weekend.