WRITTLE Wanderers were well beaten by Kings Cross Steelers in Essex Canterbury Jack League 1A.

Wanderers lost 28-7 and the day got off to a difficult start before a ball was kicked with a number of players missing due to an accident on the A12.

Following a team reshuffle, Writtle struggled to adapt to the boggy conditions with the home defence proving difficult to break down.

And the Steelers struck and touched down for two well deserved tries.

Writtle made several changes at half-time, Kieran Redfern and Sid Wright joining the fray, but further mistakes allowed for the Steelers to add more points to their tally - scoring underneath the posts.

Captain Andy May, who pulled a try back with 10 minutes to go, said afterwards: “This year was about progression which we have shown by qualifying for the upper stage.

“We have to keep going and pick ourselves up from this defeat.”