Points difference doesn't tell the story for Mersea Island (From Essex County Standard)

Points difference doesn't tell the story for Mersea Island

11:47am Friday 15th October 2010 in Mersea Rugby By Simon Spurgeon

Mersea Island Rugby Club’s players will use a week without a game to focus on the positives from their solid performance against London League division three north east leaders Basildon rather than the points difference between the two sides at the final whistle.

A 40-point defeat may not make pretty reading for the Islanders, who went down to a third straight defeat after two narrow losses, but it masks the real story of the game at the Youth Camp.

Basildon were full of compliments for their hosts at the end and Mersea scrum-half, Jon Willams, felt it was praise that was fully deserved and the main difference between the sides was the hosts’ clinical finishing.

He said: “Basildon came to us full of confidence, with maximum points from their four games and sitting top of the table, but we matched them in the first half.

“Even though we turned round 23-3 down, we felt well in the game at half-time.

“Our only reward was a penalty that I put over, but we had opportunities to score when we were in their 22, which were squandered and it was a good battle.

“Their team and their coaches said it was the hardest game they had had all season and that is encouraging.

“They had to work hard for every point, but we just weren’t clinical enough."

See this week's Essex County Standard for more reaction and a round-up of all the local rugby action.