Lowestoft & Yarmouth 22, Canvey Island 0IF L&Y can build on this thorough defeat of the league's second-placed team, they should have no trouble contending for honours at the end of the season.

Lowestoft & Yarmouth 22, Canvey Island 0

IF L&Y can build on this thorough defeat of the league's second-placed team, they should have no trouble contending for honours at the end of the season.

Without ever really getting out of second gear, L&Y played efficiently enough to score four tries and keep a clean sheet, and should have convinced themselves of their own potential.

Canvey had a couple of smart players in their experienced scrum-half and his powerful No 8, but apart from a strong running midfield really offered nothing to worry the L&Y defence.

Canvey missed an early penalty chance, then L&Y full-back Chez Bloxham followed suit after Canvey entered a maul from the side. With L&Y dominating possession and territory it was obvious their front row of Jake Titterington, Chris Howe and Wayne Nixon were too much to handle for Canvey.

And with the towering form of Simon Coleman at the front of the line-out and 17-year old debutant Ryan Oakes ruling the middle, they also had the best of the sideline ball.

A midfield scrum led to the first try with a classic training ground move. Captain Marc Thomas picked up at No 8, fed scrum half Josh Fewkes, who set winger Kristen Taylor Crisp away down the right.

He took the last man and released Bloxham on the overlap, who in turn fed back inside for the supporting Fewkes to sprint over unchallenged.

Scott Nelson fared no better than Bloxham with the conversion, and L&Y spent the remainder of the half unsuccessfully battering away at the Canvey try line only to be kept out by some brave defence and refereeing decisions going against them.

The second half started in a similar vein, L&Y on top but being spoiled by Canvey's niggly tactics, silly infringements from both sides, lots of whistling and several injury breaks.

The game then lit up with a powerful burst from the Canvey midfield. Their centre just about survived an almighty hit from his L&Y opposite Steve Adams, but was brought down and robbed in a fine tackle from Fewkes.

Nelson quickly fed the speeding Myles McAlone, who found space for Daniel Boardley to race past the cover and score from 60 metres. The score broke Canvey's resistance and the final 20 minutes belonged to L&Y's powerful scrummages, rolling mauls and Oakes-dominated line-outs.

Titterington was substituted for Richard Bristo only to return as a blood replacement and plunge over the line after Nixon ran a free-kick near the Canvey line, Nelson converting easily.

Then, in the final play of the game,

a driving maul from a line-out inside the Canvey 22 was driven over for Thomas to touch down at the back.

L&Y: Nixon, Howe, Titterington, Coleman, Wilkinson, Oakes, Cashman, Thomas, Fewkes, Nelson, Boardley, Adams, McAlone, Taylor Crisp, Bloxham. Bench: Bristo (on for Titterington), Powles (on for Cashman), Jary (on for Taylor Crisp).