CLACTON 107

BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH 0

Essex League division 1B

CLACTON recorded their biggest-ever league win in this one-sided fixture.

However, much credit also goes to the Burnham players, both for fulfilling the fixture and then sticking it out for the full 80 minutes.

The visitors have had a torrid re-introduction into league rugby this season, winning just one of their 12 previous games. So when they arrived at Vista Road with just 14 players, the writing was clearly on the wall.

However, despite the offer of an early finish, they insisted on playing the match to its conclusion and they are to be applauded for their efforts.

Clacton were able to include George Barclay, Mitchell Lilley and Mitchell Jerram in their starting line-up and regular Lee Amman spent the first half running touch.

Before the match got underway, and in the bright winter sunshine, both teams observed a minutes' silent tribute to Jan Windle, who sadly passed away earlier in the week.

Jan was a popular visitor to the club before she became seriously ill and the thoughts of the club are with husband Ken and the family.

It took the Seasiders just five minutes to record the first score of the day through Elliott Shuttleworth and they had gained the four-try bonus point within the next quarter of an hour.

Nine tries were scored by half-time and when the teams turned round, the score was 59-0.

There were eight more tries in the second half, with half of them being converted, and ten different players made their way on to the scoresheet.

Ryan Ollerton, Shuttleworth and Max Swift all scored three apiece, while James Garrod bagged a couple.

The other six were shared between Simon Anderson, Ben Buxey, Josh Byford, Tyler Fitzpatrick, Lilley and Jon Vine, with Shuttleworth's boot converting 11 of them in total.

Lilley was also chosen for the Clacton man-of-the-match award.

Clacton now have one game left in their first phase of fixtures and that is a trip to Canvey Island this coming Saturday (2pm).

Both teams are already assured of a place in the top four that move into the second phase of fixtures, as are Braintree and Maldon.

Meanwhile, Burnham can hopefully look forward to some more evenly-matched opponents in their second phase of the season.

Clacton's Kestrels ventured up the Suffolk coast for one of their longest trips of the season and a visit to Aldeburgh and Thorpeness in an Eastern Counties League division three south fixture.

They were comfortable 47-0 winners when the two sides met at Vista Road back in November, but this time they went down 36-3, with their only points coming from a Darren Tully penalty.

They have a break from league games this coming Saturday and instead will be making the short trip to Mistley's second team for a friendly fixture.

The two sides last met at Clacton in December, with the Kestrels just edging it 21-15. They also kick-off at 2pm.