MALDON travelled to Harwich and Dovercourt for an Essex 1B League fixture and won 31-8.

The hosts, new to the Essex League structure, having transferred from the Eastern Counties League, presented an unknown challenge to the Drapers Farm side.

Harwich’s pitch presented a clear advantage, with Maldon having to work against the slope and wind in their first half.

The hosts' gameplan in the first half was to use their knowledge of the ground to their advantage.

Clearing kicks back to Maldon’s 22 paid dividends with an early score for the home side.

A second try was almost scored by Harwich with their winger defeating Maldon’s slow forwards out wide - only for full-back Josh Chadwick to put in a tackle prior to the touch down which dislodged the ball.

Maldon had to work hard to get through the first half, with Harwich remaining aggressive at the break-down.

However, Maldon’s aggression was not as controlled and, after ten minutes, an altercation directly in front of the referee ended with second row Jack Judd being shown a red card for violent conduct.

It meant Maldon were down to 14 men with 70 minutes left.

Maldon stepped up their work-rate, with deep, probing kicks from Harwich often being caught and counter-attacked by Chadwick.

A return score soon came as fly-half Stuart Pearson took the ball into the corner.

In the second half, Maldon adopted Harwich’s approach to the game, clearing kicks down the slope but with greater effect.

Captain Jack White, stepping in at nine, kicked with accuracy to gain territory and tries came for pacy wingers Sam Rhodes and Sam Langston.

Another try came for fly-half Pearson, after a deep kick-off from White.

The ball evaded the home players, bouncing fortunately for the oncoming Pearson.

Deep in the second half, a suspected neck injury to prop forward Chris Roper led to the game being moved to another pitch for the last ten minutes.

Roper remained stationary waiting for the ambulance but it was eventually assessed as a non-serious injury.

The last moments of the game continued with Maldon on the attack and prop-forward James Hodson, chasing a through ball, was pipped by the Harwich full-back.

A final score for Maldon eventually came with Brendan Bignell forcing his way through a tiring defence to touch-down under the posts and make the final score 31-8.

Maldon’s man-of-the-man, for the second week in a row, went to full-back Chadwick.

On Saturday, Maldon travel to Norfolk for their RFU Cup game at Wymondham.