MALDON RUFC started the new year hoping to get back on a winning track against East London and did so with a 34-17 home Essex League division one win.

The game didn’t start well for Maldon with London scoring early but they responded well with a score for Crispin Binder.

The game remained tight with Maldon scoring again through Hez Crane.

The next score came through full-back for the day Will Heubner and Maldon ended the first half with a slender 17-15 lead.

After the break, Maldon picked up from where they left off with a double from substitute Sam Rhodes.

The first was a simple score and the second came from a kick through by centre Stuart Pearson and from the resulting footrace with Will Heubner, the full-back out-paced Rhodes but kindly left the ball for the winger to score.

The final score for Maldon came from a long period of pressure on the East London try-line.

Maldon’s scrum-half spotted winger Dom Jennings lingering unmarked out wide and fired a flat 20-metre pass out for him to collect and score.

Mike Farmer also kicked two conversions to leave the final score 34-17.

Maldon are away to league leaders May and Baker at the weekend.