H&B claim another narrow win

H&B have now chiselled out four wins by three points or less from six Sussex Division One outings - and they've come from behind in the final 10 minutes in three of these four successes.

Such is their ability to survive the close calls that, remarkably, they still have a negative points difference despite winning all bar one of their league fixtures.

"The players are playing really well, they're trying hard and they're fit," was the explanation of club spokesman Peter Knight. "The coaching staff have done really well with them. They have a lot of belief in themselves and there's a very good team spirit. Somebody is going to get a good hiding off us when it all clicks."

A hiding was never likely on Saturday, however, because Heathfield, buoyed by a win over London Four South East club East Grinstead seven days previously, are one of H&B's three likely promotion rivals and are traditionally formidable on their own patch.

Any sort of a win was always going to be a terrific result, particularly as they were 16-15 adrift going into the final 10 minutes. But a driving maul from a line-out resulted in a pushover try for Roger Roberts which was converted by Paul Sandeman and swung the pendulum back in H&B's favour.

Heathfield almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, though, when they crossed in the corner from the final play of the game but the conversion attempt sailed wide of the uprights.

If Heathfield had pinched a valuable win, H&B would have been left to rue their lack of discipline. Heathfield scored 14 points as a result of away infringements while Jimmy Adams was sin-binned for the second consecutive week along with Steve McManus.

"It's technical offences and not violence," Knight explained. "But we gave a lot of penalties away which can be dangerous. It is an area where we will be looking to tighten up."

Earlier, H&B, whose forwards were on prime form, went 5-0 up when Danny Ralph crossed and then 12-3 to the good with a Rob Sparks touchdown.