Mersea Island travelled to Mistley on Saturday looking to maintain their great start to the season up against another team looking to do well this term.

With both teams packing some power up front, it was fitting that the match was a grind from start to finish, with only one try in the whole match, and the result decided by a penalty kick right at the death.

The sole try of the game was scored early on by Mistley, with an attacking scrum inside the Mersea 22 gifting them an opportunity to make it 5-0. From this point on it was all about defence, with both sides putting their bodies on the line all over the park.

Mersea were the next to score, with hooker Laurence White knocking over a penalty from inside the Mistley 22. Another 10 attritional minutes ticked past and when Mistley infringed again, Mersea had the opportunity for more points, which White took with aplomb. 5-6 and the Islanders were in the lead which they took into half time.

The second half kicked off with Mistley immediately drawing a penalty for a high tackle, which was kicked over for the hosts to take back the lead. 8-6 and it all to play for. As it was in the first half, both sides battered each other, with the Mersea goal line defence holding fast against the big Mistley midfield. Approaching the final quarter, Mersea went on the attack into the Mistley 22, and when a penalty was awarded, Aidan Frensham came forward to put the Islanders ahead 8-9. At this point the game stopped with a change of referee.

The remaining 22 minutes saw the lead change hands three times, firstly by Mistley kicking a penalty to make it 11-9, and then only 2 minutes later White stepping back up to slot an incredible kick from 40 metres out, and from the left-hand touch line. 11-12 to Mersea, and less than 10 minutes to play. However, it was not to be for the Islanders, with another penalty conceded for offside giving Mistley the chance to kick for the win from out in front of the posts. As the ball went over full time was blow and a brutal match finished 14-12 to the home team.

Mersea will take great heart out of a quality defensive display on what is a small and claustrophobic pitch, and that picking up a losing bonus point which sees them maintain a top half position in the league. Next week sees the Islanders back at home to welcome Ipswich YM to the Glebe and another titanic battle is sure to be had.

In other news, the Rhinos (Mersea 2nd XV) welcomed Woodbridge 2nd XV to the glebe in what was a brilliant game of end-to-end rugby. The Mersea scrum was solid all day which gave the Islanders a good platform to launch from. The final score was 44-25 to Mersea, with an entertaining 8 tries to 4 victory.