WESTCLIFF were left to reflect on what could have been following a 38-28 defeat at Bury St Edmunds.

Westcliff have now been beaten in their opening four matches of the National League Two East season.

But first team manager Rick Compton felt Westcliff could have taken more from Saturday’s setback.

“It was pleasing to secure the bonus point at the end but it was bittersweet as we felt we could have had more,” said Compton.

“The decisive period of the game was the last five minutes of the first half and the first five of the second half.

“In that time, we conceded 19 points.

“We had plenty of possession and left points out there but conceding six tries, some of them cheaply, gave us too much to do.

“But it was definitely a performance to build on and to take several positives from. “ Westcliff started well, enjoying early possession and territory, but their efforts went unrewarded.

Shortly after a missed penalty attempt at goal for the visitors the home side scored a converted try in their first real foray into the Westcliff half.

The hosts pressed further but Westcliff continued to control possession and deservedly levelled the scores through a Greg Bannister try which he converted himself.

Having established parity and enjoying the lion’s share of the ball Westcliff were encouraged but a lack of detail and execution at the set piece in the last five minutes of the half presented the hosts with two opportunities to score which were gleefully accepted.

A scrum turnover after a lapse in concentration and an overthrow at the lineout resulted in the Bury right wing finishing in the corner twice in quick succession. The half ended with the hosts leading 19-7.

They pressed home their advantage shortly after the break extending their lead to 26-7 but Westcliff responded manfully. Tries from Jack Hogarth and James Rea both scored after sustained pressure in the home twenty-two were converted by Bannister and at 26-21 the game was there to be won by either side.

But it was Bury that made the decisive breakthrough from a rumbling catch and drive and they pulled further ahead after 74 minutes to establish a decisive 38-21 lead. Westcliff had five minutes to secure a bonus point with a fourth try and spent the majority of that time camped on the hosts line.

In the game’s final play veteran Jim Smith lunged over the line to secure the point.

Westcliff: Rea, Doyle, Hogarth, Gladdish, Drew, Bannister, Comber, R Walker, Lynch, Brown, Scogings, Dane, Potter, O Walker, Smith.

Replacements: Barrell, Morrant, Linscer. Miller, Meakin.

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