STANFORD-LE-HOPE 34

CLACTON 38

Essex League One Premiership

CLACTON played and won their first game in the Essex League One Premiership.

Premiership is the name that has been given to the top half of Essex League division one for the remainder of the season, with the lower-half teams competing for the Essex One Shield.

The south Essex side had finished second in their first phase of matches, losing just twice and being unbeaten at home.

Clacton initially went behind, but then tries from Shane Jerram and Jake Buxey, with one conversion from Elliott Shuttleworth, put the Seasiders 12-5 ahead.

A converted try saw Stanford draw level before Clacton went down to 14 men as James Garrod was sin-binned.

Four home tries in that ten-minute spell meant the teams turned round with the Seasiders facing a 31-12 deficit.

The game was then turned on its head in the second half as Clacton proceeded to dominate the scrum and line-out.

Jerram completed his personal hat-trick of tries and there was one apiece from both Aaron Redpath and Jon Vine.

Shuttleworth converted three of them, while all the home side could muster was a solitary penalty.

It meant Clacton had edged home 38-34, picking up five points in the process.

There was no surprise when Jerram was given the man-of-the-match accolade.

Clacton's next league fixture is on February 11 when Old Brentwood's are the visitors.

Before that, on Saturday, the Seasiders have a Suffolk Cup quarter-final at Mersea Island.

Kick-off is at 2pm.

CLACTON KESTRELS 14

HALSTEAD TEMPLARS 15

Eastern Counties League division three south

CLACTON'S Kestrels and Halstead Templars staged an entertaining game at Vista Road, with the result in doubt up until the final whistle.

When these sides met back in October, the Templars racked up nearly 70 points, so Kestrels captain Jem Lonsdale set about assembling a strong side for the return encounter.

Brothers Scott and Russell Leonard answered the call, although the third triumvirate, Jason, was occupied with important England RFU duties.

It meant a cagey opening period and it wasn't until the 25th minute that Halstead went over the try line in the left corner.

Ten minutes later, the experienced Ian Eaton spotted a gap in the visitors' defence and sliced through to equalise.

Tom Nation's kick added the extras, but Halstead came back from the re-start, forcing the Kestrels into conceding penalties before the referee decided on a penalty try.

A comfortable conversion from in front of the posts meant the visitors were 12-7 in front at the break.

Both teams reshuffled at half-time and Halstead looked dangerous going forward.

However, the Kestrels' defence held firm and, when awarded a penalty on the hour mark, the Templars chose to kick for goal, so extending the difference to eight points.

It didn't look as if the home side would break through the visiting defence and, when awarded a penalty on the ten-metre line, they elected to kick for the posts.

Nation's kick had the direction, but unfortunately it fell short.

However, with time running out, a surging run by Russell Leonard from just inside the visitors' half saw him stopped and adjudged short of the line.

A clearing kick was charged down and Sam Mockford pounced on the loose ball for a try near the posts.

Nation's kick was successful to make the score 15-14, but there was barely time to restart and it meant Halstead had secured the four points for winning, while the Kestrels had picked up a losing bonus point.

Clacton's Kestrels are at home again on Saturday when they have a friendly with Maldon thirds.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm.