Essex League 2 - May and Baker 34 Brightlingsea 13

PLAYING on the back of two heavy defeats, Brightlingsea’s depleted squad put up a much better performance in this Essex League 2 game.

Things began well when the home side dropped the kick-off in the swirling wind and, from the resulting period of pressure, Jacob Baldwin slotted a penalty home.

On a wet and windy day the advantage was always going to go to the team who adapted best to the conditions and unfortunately it was May and Baker who did that.

Although Brightlingsea tackled well, the home side ran in three tries capping off tight forward drives.

The visitors were simply too extravagant, with ambitious passes failing to go to hand and long lineout throws drifting in the wind.

May and Baker added a fourth try early in the second half but a Brightlingsea mini-revival saw an excellent solo try by Jacob Baldwin who pounced on his own clever chip kick.

Shortly afterwards Gary Palmer, in the unfamiliar position of inside centre, capped an excellent performance by powering over on the end of the visitors’ best move of the afternoon.

May and Baker however had the last word with their final try in the dying minutes.