H&B finally open their account

The flaws in the scrummage and line-out which underpinned their defeats to Hove and, in particular, Heathfield were gradually ironed out and the exciting back division revelled in a long-awaited opportunity to run with the ball.

After three successive reverses confidence was inevitably fragile early on as Seaford enjoyed a second half lead. But class told in the end with H&B coming through in the final quarter to achieve an ultimately routine victory.

Assistant coach Rob Hamilton said: "It wasn't all plain sailing although we ran out comfortable winners in the end. We dominated totally and made many more chances than they did but we did struggle to convert them. I would have been happy with any victory at all but a 20-point victory over a side who's usually in the promotion hunt was not a bad victory."

The hosts had a huge let-off early on though when a Seaford player was about to touch down in the corner only to drop the ball over the try line when under no great pressure.

But they capitalised on their moment of fortune by taking the lead towards the mid-way point of the half when Paul Flood touched down from a blind side move. Paul Sandeman added a penalty goal after a prolonged period of home pressure but that was cancelled out by an identical effort from the visitors to make the score 8-3 at half time.

Soon after the re-start a gap in the H&B defence allowed Seaford to cross from the back of a line-out from a rare attack to take a 10-8 lead.

But Flood again came calling during H&B's hour of need, ploughing over the line after a forward drive half way through the second period. This try proved the catalyst for a flurry of late scoring with Tom Brampton going over out wide on two occasions and Tony Roche placing the icing on the cake.

H&B are back at William Parker on Saturday October 18 when Pulborough visit in the second round of the Powergen Junior Vase, kick-off 3pm.