Leaders Lowestoft and Yarmouth have been threatening to amass a hatful of points for some time now and Mersea Island were on the receiving end.

In conditions made for running rugby the home side gave the crowd some sublime handling moments and more than enough glimpses of the power that the pack can produce.

It would be unfair to pick a man of the match as this was true 18 man rugby but a mention must go to Dave Palmer, who put in his best performance since being drafted into the first team wing slot.

The scoring opened when Russ Chapman took a quick free-kick and fed to Chris Howe who in turn gave to Russ Wilkinson to crash through the defence. Chapman put over the first of his nine conversions.

Next on the sheet was skipper Marc Thomas who touched down after a driving maul was set up following Ryan Oakes taking clean line out ball. Jake Titterington was next to score when Chapman gave a speedy pass to Matt Jary who in turn passed back inside to Titterington and from 30 yards out he carried the ball over, leaving would be defenders in his wake.

There was then some supreme handling from the three quarters involving Jary and Myles McAlone before young Tom Dare scored.

From a line-out five metres out the pack again drove over and Oakes was at the back to touch down. Just before half-time a loose kick from Mersea was gathered by the waiting Josh Fewkes and he took it forward and shovelled it out to Thomas who ran in from 15 out.

At the start of the second half Steve Adams came into the back row to replace Steve Powles and Graeme Newton came on for Richard Bristo at prop.

Palmer quickly set up the next try when after a 30 yard run he sent Chapman away who drew his man and fed to Daniel Boardley who ran in under the posts. Then some fine handling started by Russ Wilkinson and including Palmer, Chapman and Jary led to the ball finding Kristen Taylor-Crisp who scored.

McAlone instigated the next score as he went on a 35 yard run and passed to Thomas who sent Adams in for an excellent try. Titterington then got his second under the posts before Donald McArthur was introduced in place of Jary.

Mersea then got on the score sheet but it wasn't long before Fewkes touched down as Titterington broke free and set off Dare who in turn fed his inside centre to canter in.

Howe then got on the score sheet after before slick handling and Taylor Crisp then got his second before fittingly skipper Thomas completed his hat trick after Fewkes and Dare had combined to send him in from 35 yards.