Amersham & Chiltern slipped to their third successive defeat on Saturday as Southend beat them 40-19.

The result leaves them rooted to the bottom of the London and South East Division National League Three table with zero points to their name.

Southend were relegated last season and started the game in a manner which suggests they are intent on getting out of the division at the earliest possible opportunity.

Chiltern were finding it hard to deal with the physicality of their opponents and they were chasing the game from the moment Southend took an early lead.

Such was the dominance of the visiting side, they took a 28-0 advantage into the interval as a lack of concentration saw them run in four unanswered tries.

The second half brought a far more regimented display from Richie Williams’ side and they began to assert pressure on the Southend defence for the first time in the match.

A big tackle in midfield allowed Jonny Hughes to collect a loose ball and go over for his side’s first points of the match.

Aaron Doyle then went over in the corner to make it 28-12 before an injury to Ash Stevenson-Leigh slowed their momentum.

Some quick scores for Southend took the game away from Chiltern and Mike McDonald’s late try under the posts was little more than a consolation.

The heavy defeat means Chiltern have now conceded 111 points in their first three matches and are the only side in the league without any points.

Their hopes of ending that run look slim on Saturday as they take on free scoring Tonbridge Juddian away from home.

Tonbridge narrowly missed out on promotion last season and currently occupy fourth position having won two and lost one of their matches.

Marlow are enjoying an altogether better start to the season and maintained their 100 per cent Southern Counties North record with a 32-12 win over Gosford All Blacks.

The league leaders made light work of a struggling Gosford side to claim a bonus point win and move a point ahead of closest challengers Bicester.

They face local rivals High Wycombe in their next match in what promises to be a close encounter.

Wycombe sit third and also boast a perfect record after easing to a 15-10 win against Wallingford on Saturday.

Beaconsfield picked up their first win in the same division as they beat Aylesbury 24-10 to move above Wallingford into seventh.

Finally, Chesham got their South West Division Berks Bucks and Oxon Premier campaign off to a winning start with a 13-5 defeat of Slough.