SOUTHEND Rugby Club’s head coach Andy Holloway believes his side’s 31-26 triumph over Old Albanians on Saturday will increase in significance as the season progresses.

The fourth placed Seasiders survived a late fightback from the visitors to secure a third win in four games. And Holloway is adamant it will prove to be an important win.

“It’s a big victory because I think Old Albanians will get better and better and be in contention this season. They’ve signed a good number 10 and I think will look back at this result and think it was an even better win at the end of the season,” he said.

Holloway had not expected the game to even go ahead.

But a rise in temperature allowed the game to take plave and Southend were in front after just two minutes when Chris Waring finished off a combined efforts from the forwards.

Simon Hoult, who took over kicking responsibilities from the ill Andrew Fros, missed the difficult conversion but he then landed two penalties to put the Seasiders 11-0 in front.

However, the home-side soon eased off and Old Albanians bullied their way back in to the Southend half.

Eventually the pressure told and they scored their first try through flankerJamie Bache.

Richard Gregg converted and they had reduced the difference to 11 – 7.

But continued foul play led to two more successful penalties from Southend's Hoult and that took the score to 17-7 at half time.

Shortly after the re-start though, Albanians gained possession on the half way line and some slick passing saw one of their backs make a break through the Southend defensive line.

The Seasiders recovered and he was bought to ground 10m from the try line, but referee Mark Liddell awarded a penalty try after consulting with a touch-judge and a successful conversion made it 17-14.

Albanians’ hopes of a come-back were then hit by a yellow card to prop James Ellershaw for a trip on Southend scrum half Sam Arnott and Holloway’s side took full advantage of their extra man as Joe Van Der Molen drove over after a succession of scrums.

Hoult added the extras to make it 24-14 and captain Mark Billings then also went over, for the 12th time this season.

That made it 31-14 with 10 minutes to go but Albanians, with Ellershaw back on the pitch, scored two tries in quick succession with Terry Adams and Johannes Lombard both touching down. That set up an exciting conclusion to the clash but Southend defended doggedly to hold on.

Southend: Hoult, Cleare, Gay, Vaughan, Billings, Boughtwood, Arnott, Williams, Grier, M Guess, Waring, McClintock, Barker, Van Der Molen.