After the heavy rain, I feared for the pitch this week, but the sun came out and it was a marvelous rugby day after England had put 40 past the Aussies. Five subs meant we had strength in depth, but after a terrible warm up, we lost Erik and Ben M to injury before we even started, a few stern words lifted heads and we started like a train. Wonderful carries and offloads across the park had the crowd in raptures. Marriott, then Darch made ground, before great composed phases, saw Lukis near the line, a quick dummy and he was over! A few minutes later, Zach picked and went from the half way to put us 14 up!

Marriott again broke the line with a training park move off a scrum, drew the last defender and fed Oli Brown, back for his first game of the season, who went over under the sticks. A lovely pass from Henry saw Marriott clear again, with support either side, a deft dummy and step saw the aging full back through and clear for our fourth. Then came the try of the match. A defensive scrum in our 22 was set up with Ben G deep in the pocket ready for the clearing kick, but Marriott saw a bit of space blind and called, Lukis saw the opportunity and put the ball into the 15’s hands, a flat pass saw Zach take it at pace up the left. The cover got there, but a sweet offload saw Henry take it on. Tom K was the next runner as the forwards got involved, Darch and Jaz making yards and each offloading, Henry clear and running, Tom B linking with one man to beat, sidestep and over!!! What a beauty!!! 35 points up - Unbelievable!! Some of the best second team rugby that I’ve seen!

Then things went wrong! Three quick tries down our right wing saw Eastbourne back in the game, and us a little confused about how this had happened. There was time for Mikey to smash over to reassert control before half time, and we huddled with the scoreboard showing 40 - 19.

The second half was a bit of a nightmarish blur!! Eastbourne were a different side and we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball - They seemed to score every time they pressed! I think they got within four points as their big runners bullied our defence. Our cause wasn’t helped as Zach, Sach and Ben W limped off, and the excellent Tom B had to leave us! Darch was yellow carded for a late tackle and we were proper in trouble!! Pete M, who had been on our photographic team, reluctantly put on some kit which helped, and Ben bravely came back on. Jon Seal eventually turned up and made a massive impact with some awesome carries, this gave us a platform from which we saw Tom K scramble over, then Marriott bundled over for his brace, but believe me, the pretty rugby had pretty much disappeared. Back came Eastbourne with two more of their own, we somehow scored our 9th (I can’t even remember who got it?) and have never been happier to hear the final whistle.

Battered, depleted, slightly confused, but victorious!! There was some wonderfully rugby played by both sides. Eastbourne were a pleasure to host and should be so proud of their comeback. DotD goes to Jon who was so good for the 10 mins he actually played - Hope your boiler actually works after all that!!! MotM could have gone to so many, but even after his yellow, I’m giving it to Darch after an extraordinary performance - A true fly half, stuck in a props body!!