H&B show promotion form

The result was undoubtedly the best of their six victories out of seven in the league this season.

With the Claughton brothers and Tom Brampton back in harness in addition to the improvement the side has made as a result of last year's success, there appears genuine hope that this could finally be the season when H&B return to the London Leagues.

"Vitally important," was how club spokesman Peter Knight, who praised the performance of referee Gareth Webb, described not only this win but the triumph at another promotion rival Heathfield & Waldron seven days previously. "We played very, very well. Our front five were brilliant and the forwards' coach Jerry Hohenkirk was very pleased with them. It wasn't pretty but it was very good."

Pretty was never an option, though, in such "terrible" conditions. With the pitch slippery underfoot and the crisp air eating away at the fingers, this was a match that was going to be decided in the pack.

And, despite the flair of Kit Claughton, Brampton and company in the back division, the conditions probably suited H&B because Uckfield, although electric in the backs, are comparatively lightweight in the forwards.

And it was the visitors' superiority in that region, fronted by Morgan & Lamplugh man of the match Neil Redman, that earned them the only score of the opening 40 minutes when Paul Flood touched down a pushover try that Paul Sandeman converted.

Number eight Steve McManus gave H&B, who in stark contrast to the catalogue of indiscretions committed at Heathfield conceded just five penalties during the entire match, breathing space by extending their advantage to 12-0 on the hour.

Uckfield crossed the H&B line for the one and only time with five minutes to go but any nerves that may have formed in the away camp were settled almost immediately when Brampton supplied the finish to a fine move which started in the forwards.