SOUTHEND Rugby coach Kevin Harman heaped praise on his side after they returned to winning ways with a 40-6 demolition of Waterloo at Warner's Bridge on Saturday.

The Seasiders ran home six tries, with Faapulou Soolefai scoring twice, but Harman was more pleased with the work at the other end of the field.

"For the first time this season our opponents didn't score a try and our defence was excellent," he said.

"That was the biggest plus point for me and that is what I told the lads at the end of the game.

"It was an excellent performance and certainly up there with our best displays of the season so far."

Southend started strongly against the Londoners and opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match, with winger Mark Billings going over for his first try of the season.

The youngster, who has now recovered from a broken hand, capatilised on some fine work from Soolefai to touch down in the corner.

Alex Davies hit back with a penalty for the visitors but Harman's troops were soon back on top with Soolefai reaching a loose ball first to score.

Andrew Frost added the conversion to make 12-3 in Southend's favour.

The same combination then put the home-side even further ahead just before the half-time break as Soolefai worked his way through the Waterloo defence to score his eighth try in nine games.

Frost kicked the conversion but it was the visitors who scored first in the second half as Davies kicked his second penalty of the afternoon.

Any hopes of a comeback were soon quashed though as hooker Nicky Pay grounded the ball following a line-out.

Frost was again on hand with the conversion and, in the 62nd minute, the free-scoring winger - who has already bagged 111 points this season - added a try.

The former Greensward pupil collected a loose pass from Waterloo and ran the length of the pitch to touch down.

He successfully converted and was at it again in the 70th minute to complete the scoring after fit again Isaac Cook drove over for a try.

The hooker was making his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery and provided the perfect ending to a pleasing afternoon for the Seasiders who are now 10th in the National Two table.

Southend: C Green, Billings, Soolefai, Harvey, Frost, McKeith, Holloway, Williams, Pay, Guess, McClintock, Rosam, Waring, Gill, Connors.

REDRUTH have been deducted 10 points after items went missing from the Cambridge dressing room when the two sides met in September.

The match w