Westcliff extended their lead at the top of London One North to 14 points with a comprehensive 46-0 victory at Stevenage, which was aided by two chasing teams slipping up with a loss and a draw.

In carving out this victory, Westcliff put on one of their best performances of the season, destroying their opponents with eight tries and showing some excellent defence to keep a clean sheet for the fourth time in as many matches.

On a heavy, marshy pitch Westcliff were, in theory in for a tough time against bigger opposition but their tackling was so competent that Stevenage could not break the gain line and even though they won plenty of ball up front all attempts on the Westcliff line were snuffed out.

When Westcliff got the ball the team looked dangerous and in the score list Sebastian Reynolds and Jack Jones registered particularly fine tries.

It was Reynolds who got things moving after seven minutes with a try converted by Ben McKeith.

On 24 minutes Paul Radley, the league’s leading try scorer raced in for his first try and on the stroke of half-time, Jack Jones crossed for the team’s third effort and a 17-0 lead at the switch round.

At the break, skipper Sam Newbury, who had been taking a turn on the bench came on for Ian Dartnell.

A few minutes later Dale Farnham came on at scrum-half for Reece Whiting and soon after that George Weller replaced Ash Whiting at hooker.

The score increased with Jones scoring again after 65 and 68 minutes.

Dash Allum, who has been skippering the Lions proved his late drafting-in was inspired as he also scored two tries, the second converted by McKeith.

Radley went in for the next try and the second Reynolds brother, Sam, then got in on the act and went in for the last try.

Jones hoisted the flags with his conversion to make it 46-0 and 13 wins out of 14.

With the team for once free of injury problems, the scene is set for a tasty home match against fellow promotion hopefuls Colchester next Saturday.

>THURROCK were also victorious as they beat Ruislip 19-3.