BILLERICAY 0

CLACTON 38

Essex League One Premiership

CLACTON'S favourite number at the moment is 38.

For the third time in four weeks, they stacked up that number of points in their Essex League Premiership fixture.

That makes it three wins out of three since the second phase started and the Seasiders are now up to fourth in the table.

Clacton travelled to Billericay on Saturday in the knowledge their opponents, due to injuries, had been unable to fulfil their first two fixtures, against Braintree and Canvey Island.

Captain Jake Buxey won the toss and duly elected to defend the notorious home slope in the first half.

In spring-like conditions, Clacton went in front after just six minutes.

Jon Vine's surging run took him almost to the line before Elliott Shuttleworth's acrobatic basketball-style catch and touchdown under the posts brought generous applause.

He rounded it off with a comfortable conversion and the Seasiders gradually seized control.

Max Swift and Josh Byford were comfortably winning their own and even the opposition line-outs, while the Clacton pack as a whole were dominating scrums.

Such was the domination that on 25 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty ten metres from the line, Clacton elected to take a scrum rather than kick the points and Buxey glided through the space for try number two.

Leading 12-0 at the break, and looking forward to playing downhill, the Seasiders were caught off guard and had to absorb Billericay pressure at the re-start.

However, they weathered the ten-minute storm and then stretched their lead with a typical Shuttleworth breakaway under the posts and an easy conversion.

Billericay heads dropped but Clacton took their foot off the gas, making for a rather flat display, and it was only in the closing 12 minutes that there was any further addition to the score.

Buxey knocked-on when in sight of the line, but the home side failed to clear the resultant scrum.

After a series of ping-pong movements, Simon Anderson managed to touch the ball down and Shuttleworth added the extras.

With a bonus-point try now in their pockets, Clacton secured the ball from the re-start for James Garrod to run in try number five.

Shuttleworth's conversion made the score 33-0 and four minutes later Bayley Eden forced his way over the line for his first try at first-team level.

It made the score 38-0 and also secured him the Clacton man-of-the-match accolade.

The home side only had their pride left and they tried to force their way over the Clacton line in the closing stages.

However, despite a yellow card for Shane Jerram with just two minutes to go, the Seasiders held out for a clean sheet.

Clacton now have a week's break from league action and turn their attention to the Suffolk Cup. On Saturday they have a semi-final visit to the current holders of the trophy, Woodbridge.

Kick-off is at 2pm.

The other semi-final is between Stowmarket and Sudbury.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, March 18, with either Woodbridge or Clacton having home advantage.