MALDON began their Essex League campaign with an emphatic 76-0 victory at Witham.

Their summer of hard work paid handsome dividends, running in a dozen tries and not conceded any.

They showed intensity from the start, immediately forcing an error that resulted in the first scrum.

Maldon started with a front row of Chris Roper, Jack Mills and John Read and they laid down a marker early on, driving Witham back 10 yards.

The hosts struggled to cope with the aggressive Maldon back-line, as quick hands soon went wide and winger Sam Rhodes continued his form from last season by finishing off in the corner.

Rhodes, relishing the game, went on to complete a hat-trick of tries.

Further scores followed from back-row Brendan Bignell, taking a short ball off the stand-off and shaking off a couple of defenders, and winger Jamie Farrup, muscling his way into the corner.

Sam Langston made his first-team debut as he came on for the possibly concussed Rhodes and showed his talent early on with some great defending, fast attacking and a first-half try.

Maldon's dominant display continued, led by the forwards, and Witham were often driven off their own ball in the scrum.

With Maldon boasting two jumpers, Simon Peacock and Max Knight, in the line, they often spoiled the Witham line-out too.

After all the hard work of the Maldon pack, a scrum 10 metres out gifted skipper and scrum-half Sam Delderfield-King an easy touch down.

Owen Preece, who emerged as a first-team regular last season, took on the kicking duties and was successful with the majority of his kicks, often from out wide.

He touched down for a five-pointer himself prior to the half-time whistle.

At half-time, complacency could have easily crept in, but this was not the case and the Maldon pack took note of coach Judd's comments.

The second half saw further tries early on and loose-head Chris Roper went over.

Substitutions in the second half led to another debut for centre Robert Adams and he soon put his marker down with a try, using quick feet and pace to beat his opposite man out wide.

Another soon followed after fly-half Jack White orchestrated a move to put through Adams.

Daniel Farrup came on at number eight, using his weight to Maldon's advantage, bumping the Witham defenders out the way on several runs and scoring under the posts with the last phase of the game.

Man-of-the-match was a difficult decision but eventually went to winger Langston.

Maldon are at home to Stanford-le-Hope in the cup on Saturday (3pm).