Five-try Harbord sinks Holbrook

Harbord opened his account five minutes into a one-sided Sussex One fixture and went on to score three more in the first half as H&B turned round 31-3 ahead.

Lewis Sealy, Roger Roberts, Harbord, Tom Spatchurst, Paul Sandeman and Ben Campbell (2) went over in the second period, with the remainder of the points coming from the boot of Sandeman.

Certainly there had been few clues that this H&B team had such a bravura performance in their locker during last month’s dour loss on a muddy pitch in the reverse fixture.

It was as if they had woken up from a season-long sleep. And poor Holbrook, expecting to grind out a win against a limited side, were swept off their feet.

A full report will appear in Friday’s Hastings and Bexhill Observers.

Elsewhere in the same division, Rye received a walkover after opponents Worthing III were unable to raise a side - just as they had in the reverse fixture.

Standings (played-points): 1 Uckfield 19-92, 2 Holbrook 20-64, 3 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 20-63, 4 Burgess Hill 19-63, 5 Pulborough 19-63, 6 Seaford 20-51, 7 Brighton II 20-40, 8 Worthing III 19-39, 9 RYE 20-34, 10 East Grinstead II 19-31, 11 Eastbourne II 20-18, 12 St Francis 19-12.