Jack MacVeigh holds nerve to secure dramatic victory for Southend Saxons

MacVeigh converted from the right touchline with the final kick of the game to hand Saxons a dramatic 26-24 victory. But MacVeigh was always confident of making his kick count.

“I just didn’t doubt myself.” said the full-back.

“Of course I was a bit nervous but it was the business end of the game and I wasn’t going to miss a kick I normally knock over in practice. I knew when I hit it, it was a good one and to see it sail over, there’s no better feeling.”

The victory was Southend’s second in succession and moved them up to sixth in the London One North standings. But MacVeigh felt Saxons should have secured victory long before his late intervention.

"The game itself was tough and a few decisions didn’t go our way," said MacVeigh.

"They should and would have had the game wrapped up earlier than the last kick."

However, MacVeigh is pleased to see Southend bouncing back from successive defeats in their opening two games of the season.

"The first two games were tough," said MacVeigh.

"Coming back from nearly two years out from competitive rugby, we were still finding our feet as a whole and individually. It was a slow start but we’ve used that as motivation for the next games in hand and it’s working for us."

And MacVeigh is now confident for the remainder of the campaign.

"For the rest of the season I just want us to keep progressing as a team," said MacVeigh.

"We want to try and keep injuries to a minimum but ultimately finish in the top three, if not win the league, which I think is achievable.”

Matt Wagstaff, Tom Ramsey, Greg Warner and Tom Day all scored tries while MacVeigh added three conversions.

Southend will now be looking to make it three wins in a row when they host Chingford at Warners Bridge this weekend.

Southend Saxons: MacVeigh, Justice, Ramsey, Vaughan, Day, Sexton, Inwood, Bass, Forster-Knight, Reeman, O’Kill, Buckley, Ramsey, Whatling, Wagstaff.

Replacements: Campbell-Webster, Newton & Warner.