Southend’s Twickenham memories will last a lifetime
A resurgent Southend Saxons are celebrating a superb league and cup double following their first ever Twickenham triumph.
Southend were crowned Regional Two Anglia champions after winning 21 matches in succession.
And Saxons, who are one of the oldest clubs in the country, followed that up with further success in the Papa Johns Regional Two Championship, much to the delight of director of rugby Josh Ward.
“It's tough to sum it all up but I'm just incredibly pleased and proud of everyone involved,” said Ward. “The supporters came out in big numbers for the final with more than 500 of them here and the noise was just incredible.
“The Priors won the league and cup as well so that's four trophies we've won this season now and it's brilliant.”
Tom Sly scored two tries for Southend in the 35-26 victory against Northampton Old Scouts at Twickenham while John Kenward, Chris Vaughan and Harry Branch also touched down. And Ward admitted it was a day he would never forget.
“Winning trophies at Twickenham is what you dream of,” said Ward. “It's been a long season but it's been a very special one and these are memories which will live with us all forever.
“It's once in a lifetime stuff and a fairytale for us really.”
However, it has not all been straightforward for Southend in recent seasons.
The first team squad was incredibly small in size following a mass player exodus to near neighbours Rochford Hundred.
And it has been a tough rebuilding job for Ward to carry out.
“It's important we don't forget where we've come from with this and where we started from,” said Ward, who joined the club in 2017.
“When I first came in we had 12 players training and a dog watching.
“It was a ghost-town environment which was sad to see but it was exciting at the same time because it was a transitional period.
“But I've always stuck with my belief that if you pack the place with good people and allow them to have an input then you'll move in the right direction.
“Everyone within the building wants the best for the club and to see where we are now I'm incredibly proud.”
Long-serving centre Vaughan echoed those sentiments. And, after 17 years of lining up for the club, Vaughan is pleased to be retiring on a high.
“It still hasn't really sunk in that my last game of rugby was at Twickenham,” said the 34-year-old.
“I couldn't think of a better way to finish. It was such a great experience and it was nice I could share it with my family who have supported me so much over the years.
“We've had some low moments here but the togetherness is the best it's been for a very long time and none of us will ever forget this season.”
