Worthing……….15
Westcliff ………19
GREG BANNISTER kicked 14 points as Westcliff secured their first victory as a National League 2 side in a scrappy affair at Worthing.
The Essex side earned promotion through the play-offs last season and the step up initially appeared too big a gap to bridge, as they lost their first seven games of the campaign.
But they showed heart and desire to win at fellow strugglers Worthing, with Bannister booting four penalties.
It threatened to be a long afternoon again for Westcliff when Worthing crossed for the first try of the match in the 17th minute.
Some neat hands in midfield released wing Curtis Barnes to score, while fly-half Mathew McLean was successful with the conversion.
McLean added a penalty just after the half-hour mark but Westcliff responded with a try three minutes before halftime as centre Robert Smith rumbled over.
That rattled a Worthing side that has won just two games this season and their lack of confidence was evident in the second half.
Bannister kicked three penalties in the 43rd, 51st and 64th minutes to put Westcliff six points clear, before Worthing hit back with a try for centre Thomas Gwyther.
However, McLean missed the vital conversion and Westcliff held on to win, with Bannister grabbing a late penalty.
