Burgess Hill 1XV put in a cracking performance on home turf to see off East Grinstead 24–12 in a hard-fought and physical encounter. Hill started slowly, but got things going with their first try after some slick handling out wide. The missed conversion gave the home team a 5–0 lead and a bit of momentum.

It didn’t take long for East Grinstead to wake up however. A strong carry from the forwards set up the platform and Ralph Harris sniped over from close range to open the scoring for the visitors. The conversion drifted wide, but EG were back in it at 5–5. The first half remained tight, with both sides showing solid defence and a few handling errors creeping in. Just before the break, the Hill forwards had began to gain the upper hand, earning valuable metres with every carry.

The second half was a different story! G’s came out fired up and turned the screw. A textbook lineout drive saw the pack march over the line for their second try, finished by captain fantastic, George Beet, this time converted, to take a 5–12 lead. Not long after, a loose pass from East Grinstead was pounced on by the Burgess Hill backs, who broke away down the left wing for another unconverted try, narrowing the lead to two points.

Into the final quarter, and the G’s boys were tiring as they faced the relentless black wall. Eventually the pressure told and Hill crossed to snatch the lead, and then in the final stages, Hill sealed the win with a fourth try after a big turnover in midfield. Quick hands out wide and a great finish under the sticks gave the home fans plenty to cheer about.

This closed out a solid and encouraging day in attack and defence for the G’s, against a strong Sussex 1XV. This league offers no easy games and next week we go again.

Idris Lawal - Prop