Joe Howard goes on the attack for Romford & Gidea Park against Bury (DNR Glover)

Our guide to the weekend’s rugby fixtures

London Division 1N

Basildon v Romford & GP

Romford endured a difficult start to 2013 against runaway leaders Bury last weekend,

Joe Howard’s try was scant consolation as the visitors piled up the points at Crow Lane to run out winners by a whopping 80-5 margin.

But coach Mark Collins wants his men to put that behind them as they travel to lowly Basildon this weekend.

He said: “They’re tough to beat at home and have shown some good form.

“They’re second-bottom, but narrowly missed out to Eton Manor last week. Results haven’t gone for them.

“We’ve set ourselves short-term goals and taken it week-by-week this season. We’ll target our home games and hope to nick a few away.

“Our job is to stay in this league and move higher up the table. We want to keep Basildon down there and ourselves away from the fight at the bottom.”

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London Division 3NE

Upminster v Wisbech

A missed conversion by Sudbury allowed Upminster to claim a 17-16 win in Suffolk last weekend.

After being awarded an early penalty try, Upminster saw Dan Cuerden and Tom Simpson touch down to leave them six points up with the match drawing to a close.

Sudbury snatched a last-gasp try to cut the gap to a single point, but missed the conversion to Upminster’s relief.

They currently sit in fourth place and welcome a Wisbech side to Hall Lane, after their slender 8-3 home loss against leaders South Woodham last weekend.

Upminster will look to set the record straight after losing 20-15 in Cambridgeshire earlier this season.

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Essex Division 1

Old Cooperians v Maldon

Coopers handed hosts Clacton a 17-poinnt head start on the Essex coast last weekend.

And, despite a hat-trick of tries from Harry Fayers, who also sent Joe Bilton under the posts, they could not make it up and fell to a 39-26 defeat.

They remain in second place, but are now 10 points behind rivals Campion and welcome a Maldon side to St Mary’s Lane, who drew 10-10 with Upper Clapton in their first outing of 2013.

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Upper Clapton v Campion

Campion extended their lead at the top of the table with another strong display at Cottons Park.

Dave Armstrong touched down in either half against Billericay, with Stephen Sullivan, Dan Walshe, Liam McEvoy and Luke Tilly also going over in a 34-0 success.

That made it 10 wins in a row for Campion this season and they should be confident of another in east London.

They won 19-5 when the two sides met earlier this season and their miserly defence has conceded less than seven points per game so far.