MERSEA Island skipper Jon Williams was delighted with his side’s “best performance of the season”.

The Islanders followed up last week’s 36-19 Eastern Counties division one win against Swaffham with a 60-24 demolition of third-placed Thetford at the Glebe.

Williams, who added five conversions during the match, said: “It was an unexpected victory considering our mid-season form.

“But it is proof of what we are capable of as a team.

“It was an outstanding display. Thetford came to us after beating second-placed Ely last week full of confidence.

“They were a well organised and well drilled outfit.

“But we were back to near full strength after missing a few players and had some good ball carriers in the side.

“And I think we put in our best performance of the season to take the win.”

Mersea started very well when they won a turnover scrum and number eight Brendan Cook burst through for the opening try. Williams added the conversion.

But the opening quarter of the match was nip and tuck as Thetford came back to level the scores at 7-7.

However, the home side took the game back to them and a great break from fly-half Matt White saw Rob Pickard released to cross for a try.

The Thetford winger was then dragged into a ruck and Williams kicked the ball into space for Mersea winger Ed Smith to chase.

He gathered the ball and ran the length of the pitch to score.

Smith then added another try to take the half-time score to 26-10.

Thetford scored at the start of the second half but Mersea came back with two line-out catch and drive tries from Cook to complete his hat-trick.

Prop Andrew Cawtheray then added another try before Matt Wilkins then scored another.

Mersea’s try-scoring was completed with a brace from Matt Rose.

Williams said: “It has been a great start to 2015 with two back-to-back wins.

“A key thing was that the squad didn’t get flustered and kept their focus and continued to play rugby and make the right decisions.

“We kicked the ball when it needed kicking, kept it tight when it was needed and made the best of our opportunities.

“Thetford stretched us at times but our defence held.”