BRADLEY Burr was thrilled to make his full Southend debut against Hartpury College.

But he was not so pleased with the result as the Seasiders sunk to a 66-14 defeat at Warners Bridge on Saturday.

Burr was handed his first start at fly half for the clash.

However, the 18-year-old was unable to help his side see off their high-flying visitors.

“It was a good feeling to be given my first start but it was a difficult afternoon for us,” said Burr who kicked two conversions.

“All of Hartpury’s players seemed to be ridiculously strong and in rucks one of their players would beat two of ours to create an overlap in the backs.

“We had problems with our alignment and organisation as well and Hartpury were able to punish us because of that.”

Southend were also not helped by a number of injuries which left them with just 10 of their regular first team players.

Hartpury took advantage of that, but it was initially the Seasiders on top with Alan Barker scoring a try after just four minutes which Burr converted.

But the visitors immediately hit back with a try from Ian Clark which Tim Stevenson converted.

They then added a trio of quick tries with Koree Briton, Clark again and Jack Hayes all touching down.

Southend suffered a further blow when flanker Jamie Douglas was yellow carded and Hartpury responded with two more tries with Brandon Walker and Briton touching down. Stevenson added four conversions to make it 40-7 at half-time and Hartpury added another four tries in the second period.

Clark scored twice while Glen Lewis and Graham Spiers also scored.

Three more Stevenson conversions took the score to 66-7 before Southend scored in the dying seconds with Harry Hudson grabbing a try and Burr converting.

Southend: Jones, Driver, Freeman, Vaughan, Billings, Burr, Scully, Williams, Keenan, Irvine, Waring, McClintock, Barker, Douglas, Hudson.

Replacements: Reeman, Grier, Johnson, Ashton and Suttcliff