MISTLEY Rugby Club played their first Eastern Counties League matches of the season, with their first team away to a well-drilled Mersea Island side.

While Mistley's pack fought hard, the Mersea backs dominated to win 53-3.

Mistley Marauders, meanwhile, were at home to Mersea's second XV.

They welcomed Fred Barrett, James Taz, Liam Read, Jamie Dove and Hugh Prior to the side for their first league games for the club while there was also a welcome return for Dan Heany.

The Mersea team were made up of some experienced veterans and young players.

However, Mistley started well under the captaincy of Simon Carter, with a cracking tackle from Barrett allowing Jim Tozer to run with the ball and pass to Lewis Symes to score.

The Mersea experience then showed and, with poor defending from Mistley, Mersea responded and scored to take the lead at 7-5.

A further try from their quick forwards and Mistley were lagging at 14-5 by half-time.

In the second half, with some persistent forward play from James Wares, Adam Thorpe and Tas, Mistley began to improve, with Moby Turner probing the Mersea defence.

Chris Coogan worked hard at scrum-half and the Mistley backs were able to match the dominant Mersea line.

However, another series of errors allowed Mersea to score and increase the lead to 21-5.

This is when Mistley began to fight back with a try from Turner as he smashed over the line to score with a conversion from Dougall Meston.

A further try from Turner, who had an excellent game, narrowed the deficit to 21-17.

With 20 minutes left, Meston scored and the Marauders were ahead at 22-21.

However, the Mersea team lost four players due to injury and graciously conceded the game.

This weekend the first XV are at home to Ipswich seconds and the Marauders are away to Stowmarket thirds.

The games are sponsored by BusyBody's Gym and Fitness Centre, of Manningtree.