Lynch, Jones, Julian, Tom Ward (1), Dan James, Pat Cussen, Pat Ronayne, Will Trapp, Pat Hallaghan, Ollie Lee, Will Brown, Joe Arnone, Joe Fennessey (2), Damo Thomas (1), Mike Hogan, Neil Tiernan, John Arnone.

Southend 20 - Campion 29

Three no shows from the selected squad meant a reshuffle of the starting fifteen. Left short in the front row we had to borrow a prop from the home team (many thanks to Julian and Southend) who defying initial impressions went on to play a very fine game for us. Starting the 2014/15 season were those great club stalwarts Neil Lynch and Neil Tiernan, joined by John Arnone from the bench.

Despite the reshuffle, Campion put in an impressive performance to kick off with an away victory on a score line of 29-20, running in four tries adding three conversions and one penalty. The front row of Neil Lynch, the returning Richard Jones and our Southend prop was rock solid on our own put in and driving back a grizzly Southend pack on their put in on a couple of occasions. Trappy, Dan James and Tom Ward put in big shifts in the boiler room carrying well and dominated the line out helped by good darts from Richard Jones. In a competitive back row, Pat Cussen performed as wholeheartedly as always putting body on line against Southend's dangerous Number 8. Neil Tiernan lived up to his motto of the breakdown "if your not offside you're not doing your job" and Pat Ronayne, obviously picking up a few tricks on back row play from his South African sojourn, drove some huge holes in the opposition defence.

Despite claiming he wouldn't play this year Pat Hallaghan showed up with his kit and despite giving away a try from having a clearance kick charged down at the base of a scrum, played the general role at scrum half and occasionally the second referee, naturally. Fly half Ollie Lee (MOM), petrified Southend by his pace and awareness in attacking space. Mike Hogan at full back was rock solid and ran back ball with such intent that Southend became reluctant to kick the ball long when under pressure. Joe Fennessy and Joe Arnone (Basterjoe as he likes to be called), marshalled the defence with Southend running the ball well, in particular their fullback who moved to outside centre running some dangerous lines showing good pace. If it hadn't been for John Arnone the master of the choke tackle in the right place at the right time result may have been very different.

Joe Fennessey ran in two well worked tries adding the conversions to bring his total tally up to 16 for the day after taking over kicking duties from Will Brown, who duly slotted his one chance of the game to kick of his fantasy league points for the year.

Man of the match goes to Ollie Lee who made ground on numerous occasions and provided a great no look pass to set up one of the tries. Noticeable mentions must also go to Joe Fennessey, Pat Ronayne and Tom Ward who put in great shifts in both attack and defence.

With a lot of players to come back from holidays and injuries they will have a tough job breaking into the starting team. A very competitive performance for the first game of the season that Campion will be looking to build upon this result away to newly promoted side Old Brentwoods next week.