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Dings can count themselves unlucky to have come away with nothing after a great performance from their pack, who dominated for long periods.

It was three tries each in the end with some top-class goal kicking from Southend's Andrew Frost making the difference.

Southend opened the scoring in the second minute with a try from scrum-half Steve Jay after the home side turned over a ball following a great drive the by Dings' forwards. Frost added the conversion.

Dings then dominated play for 30 minutes with almost total control of the ball and, after first stand-off Neil Dipple and then full-back Orlando Stott went close, prop Josh Lloyd got Dings on the scoresheet with a try from close in.

Despite continuing to dominate both possession and territory, Dings fell further behind when Frost slotted two more penalties from the home side's only two visits to the Dings 22 giving Southend a half-time lead of 13-5.

With a strong wind at their backs, Dings looked set to take the game in the second half but it was the home side who scored first.

Much like the first half, Dings had 10 minutes of possession and territory but when Southend got the ball they looked very sharp in the backs.

When stand-off Dan Boughtwood's long pass found winger Matt Billings, he carried the ball from halfway to the Dings try line for flanker Chris Green to score the try. Frost added the conversion.

Dings hit back almost immediately with a try from No 8 Gavin Curry from a five-metre scrum after skipper Stean Williams was help up over the try line.

But then Frost was on target with his third penatly to give Southend a 23-10 lead.

The whole game was summed up by Southend's third try. A scrum on half way was driven fiercely back but scrum-half Jay scrambled the ball away for their back line to spread it out wide for winger Billings to score. Frost added the conversion.

Dings hit back with their third try from full-back Stott after a good drive by hooker Dave Wheeler was carried on by the whole pack with replacement stand-off Dan Quartley adding the conversion.

Dings battled hard until the final whistle but failed to secure even a losing bonus point despite dominating the game for long periods. Southend continued to impress in this hard-fought win.

Match Report from Bristol Evening Post