Eastern Counties 3 Aldeburgh & Thorpeness 43 Mersea Island Rhinos 5 A cold and windy Suffolk afternoon was the stage for Aldeburgh’s most convincing victory of the season so far, writes Malcolm Beer.

After a week’s break and disappointment at Woodbridge, the Green Machine looked ready and dangerous.

From the start, Aldeburgh dominated in the scrums, pushing a not insignificant Rhinos side around the park. It wasn’t long before Aldeburgh made a break for it with some good pod work allowing Connor Ruffles to be first on the score sheet after just seven minutes, expertly converted by James Cook in a welcome return to the Greens.

The tries kept coming for Aldeburgh. Quick hands in the 15th minute inside the Mersea 22 allowed Patrick Norman in to put down his first of the season but alas Cook couldn’t convert.

Just five minutes later was an excellent break away try from Ben Atherton, Cook converting this time.

Two more tries before the half was the reward for Aldeburgh’s solid teamwork and good drills. The first came from Kristian Curling after some excellent feeder work by Jed Gallant and the second by Steve Anker again fed by Gallant.

After the break Mersea appeared to rally. Good work rate in the scrum and line out allowed the Rhinos to put one down on the near side just before being put into touch in the 65th minute. The conversion missed.

The response from Aldeburgh was swift and decisive. A turn-over inside the Greens’ 10 allowed a break away by Jed Gallant, feeding an out of position Michael Dearing to score on the far side, Cook adding the extras.

In the closing plays of the game, the Rhinos mounted a charge for the Aldeburgh try line, making 25 metres from a burst of speed on the wing but were unable to capitalise.

Then a last minute turn-over saw Aldeburgh return to the Mersea 10 where, after a few pick and go phases, Cook added a last minute try for the Greens.