Worthing 28 Southend 36
Oct
Frost Away.
The visit to Worthing was always going to be a tough game and so it proved. In a game of whistles penalties, red and yellow cards, this fragmented match still proved entertaining.
With seven penalties against and two yellow cards in the first twenty minutes it was surprising that Southend managed to take the lead with a try from Michael Guess. He finished a flowing move that spanned the pitch to take Southend to an early five point lead. Andrew Frost had left his kicking boots behind for the day and missed the conversion. It was one of six missed kicks by him but he was able to more than make up for them with three try's.
Worthing were soon to score a try of their own when Southend were penalised in the scrum twice and Andrew McClintock sin binned. They elected for another scrum, won the ball and scampered over the line. The try was converted and they went into a 7 – 5 lead.
Two minutes later they won another penalty in the Southend half which resulted in yet another yellow, this time for Charlie Keenan and a further three points to them. 10 – 5.
Playing with thirteen men Southend did well to soak up the pressure for the next ten minutes but they did.
Things were evened up when one of Worthing's forwards also attracted the attention of the ref and was sent to the bin. They were punished even more when Southend retained the ball and mounted one of their speedy attacks. The ball was moved across the field and back again until it reached this weeks winger Frost, who finished off neatly but failed with the conversion. 10 – 10.
Just before the break Southend moved back into the lead at 10 – 15 when No 8, Jo Van Der Molen, collected the ball and ran it in for Southend's third of the day. Again the conversion was narrowly missed.
Things started badly for Worthing immediately from the restart when their forward, who had already been sin binned, erred for his second yellow card and the referee sent him off. This resulted in a re-organisation of the Worthing forwards that left one of them off the field for the rest of the game through no fault of his own. To punish them further Frost added the three points and they fell further behind at 10 – 18.
It got worse for Worthing. Following a kick through the defensive line, Andrew Frost, who was seeing more and more of the ball, collected it and strolled over for his second of the day and the bonus point. He then kicked the conversion. 10 – 25.
A couple of minutes later Frost scored another three points from a penalty, the score moved to 10 – 28 and it seemed all over for Worthing. However a life line was thrown when Southend's line out began to malfunction. Following some bench changes the throw ins became ragged, confusion reigned, Worthing stole the ball, ran in a try which they converted 21 – 28. Game on again.
Southend sealed it however when that man Frost finished off yet another flowing cross field move. His successful conversion and yet another penalty wrapped things up and took the the score to an unassailable fifteen point lead.
Worthing doggedness led to a deserved penalty try being awarded just before the end of the game. The successful conversion proved to be the last kick of the game.
The final score of 28 – 36 rounded off a return to winning ways for Southend and moved them up to
fourth in the league, three points behind leaders Jersey.
With a total of 26 points of the 36 scored including his hat trick of try's Frost was man of the match.
Next week low flying Newbury visit Warner's Bridge, a decisive win is imperative.
Penalties against: Southend 15 – Worthing 11
