THURROCK Mens Firsts suffered a heavy London & SE Regional 2 Anglia defeat against near neighbours Brentwood on Saturday, going down 56-14.

However, they remain among the most entertaining teams in the division with a total of 302 points scored in the four matches they have played to date.

Just one of those four resulted in a win, but they were all close matches – except for Saturday's encounter at the King George's Playing Fields where the hosts ran away with the game.

Tees were forced to field a depleted side after the exertions of a titanic battle against Wymondham the week before and the inexperience and lack of physicality showed.

It took Brentwood until the 14^th minute to breach the Thurrock line but an emphatic line-out catch and maul saw them drive over to get the scoreboard ticking over.

The conversion was missed and it was to be Thurrock who added the next points in the 18^th minute with a flowing move from inside their own half that ended with Harry Reynolds racing in to touch down between the posts. Shea Cotter converted.

But by half time, with Thurrock suffering further injuries including the loss of Kodie Holloway, Brentwood had a grip on the match and they went into the break 22-7 ahead.

Thurrock made a great start to the second stanza when William Baily took a quick tap and dived over from close range, with Cotter adding the extras.

However, that was to be as good as it got and Brentwood dominated much of the game from then on, finishing with a 56-14 win.

Thurrock are on the road again next weekend, with a trip to Bury St Edmunds Seconds.

Elsewhere Stanford-le-Hope's fine start to the season continued with a 27-14 win at East London in the London & SE Essex 1 Counties, where they have now recorded three wins from four outings.

They will look to improve on that next Saturday (24 October) when bottom club Chingford are visitors at the Rec.

In Division One of the Group 1 Automotive Essex Merit League Pegasus Palmerians enjoyed a 36-31 home win against Barking but there was a heavy home defeat for Thames who were overpowered 57-10 by Romford & Gidea Park Seconds.

Thames are in action next weekend at Millwall Seconds. Pegs have a weekend off but Thurrock Seconds will take up the challenge of table-topping Romford and Gidea Park at Oakfield.

On Sunday there was a valiant performance from Thurrock T-Birds but they were unable to cross the whitewash at Old Albanians and went down 37-0.