WESTCLIFF’S winless run continued with a 52-15 defeat at Canterbury on Saturday.

Westcliff have now been beaten in all 13 of their National Two South matches this season.

And first team manager Rick Compton felt it was another inconsistent afternoon.  “It was a mixed bag with some good moments and some others that lacked in quality and detail,” said Compton.

“It remains the case that without more consistency in selection both results and performances will fluctuate. 

“Effort and commitment though have been and remain high and in time they will pay off. "

Westcliff again had to wrestle with the revolving door of fit and available players for Saturday’s clash. 

The opening exchanges were even with the visitors playing up the slope, defending aggressively when required and testing the hosts’ resolve when opportunity arose. 

Each side profited from turnover ball to escape cover and run in from deep down the flanks. 

The hosts who struck first converted successfully to lead 7-5 the Westcliff try having been scored by Greg Bannister. 

In the last 10 minutes of the half Canterbury asserted themselves and scored two further converted tries while Westcliff’s only reply was a missed penalty attempt and the hosts led 21-5 at the break.

They scored again shortly after the restart, but the next score was again from the Westcliff skipper who converted his own try to make the score 28-12. 

Westcliff were having a good period and continued to press and forced two penalties within range. 

The first drifted wide but the second closed the gap to 28-15 with 20 minutes to go. 

However, they were unable to score when pressing hard on the hosts line and coughed up a penalty that allowed Canterbury to clear their lines, escape up field and force a decisive try of their own. 

Westcliff’s tiring legs and lack of depth caught up with them and in the final 15 minutes they conceded a further three tries and the game finished 52-15. 

Westcliff have now picked up just one point this season and host Worthing this weekend.

Westcliff have now picked up just one point this season.

Westcliff: Bannister, Hogarth, B Reynolds, Longhurst, Morrant, Whiting, Comber, Lane, Lynch, Binneman, Anderson-Brown, Dane, Nicholls, S Reynolds, Johnson.

Replacements: Doyle, Smith, Webster, Miller & Baily