A SLOPPY start to the game saw Southend slump to a 44-22 defeat against Old Albanians at Warners Bridge on Saturday.

The Seasiders found themselves 28-0 down after 24 minutes.

And that infuriated their director of rugby Chris Green.

“We just didn’t turn up for the start of the game,” said Green.

“The game was over inside the opening half an hour and you just can’t afford to do that against a team who I feel are the best in our league.

“Right now we’re either really good or really bad and there’s no middle ground.

“We have to try to be more consistent because we’re capable of beating these teams when we’re at our best.”

Southend were the last team to beat second-placed Old Albanians, back in October.

But they never looked like completing a double as the visitors opened the scoring after just four minutes with a try from James Spiers.

Richard Gregg then carved open the Southend defence to touch down before Oliver Cooper-Miller and Johannes Lombard did likewise.

All four tries were converted by Gregg to make it 28-0 before Bradley Burr kicked a penalty to get Southend onto the scoresheet.

The score remained 28-3 at half-time and the Seasiders were forced into making two changes at the break, with both Michael Guess and Andrew Frost having to come off.

However, Old Albanians remained on top and Spiers soon added another try which Gregg again converted.

Southend reduced the deficit with a try from Mark Billings which followed an intelligent kick forward from Chris Vaughan.

But the visitors came back to score their sixth try of the evening when Andrew Daish collected a misplaced Seasiders pass and ran the length of the field to score.

Gregg, who is the highest points scorer in the league, added the extras to maintain his 100 per cent record.

Southend refused to give up though and two Old Albanians players were subsequently yellow-carded.

Eventually, Southend’s sustained efforts were rewarded with a try from winger Billy Driver, before scrum half Sam Arnott also touched down.

With Burr off injured, Vaughan added the conversion but the Seasiders were unable to score a fourth try which would have given them a bonus point.

The defeat kept Southend 10th in the table and they will need to start far better at fourth-placed Henley this weekend if they are to avoid further disappointment.