Heathfield & Waldron IV 29 Cinque Ports 14 (HT 5-7)

St Leonards based Cinque Ports early season injury crisis continued with Cinque Ports only able to muster 14 players for their visit to the league new boys. The game started evenly, both Cinque Ports and Heathfield coming close without scoring. Heathfield eventually broke the deadlock after an error strewn period that saw both sides lose a little composure, a penalty 10 metres from the line saw Heathfield power over.

Cinque Ports quickly bounced back, winger Gavin Thomas took the ball into a tackle and quickly recycled, captain Paul Smart released the centres Colin Whyte and Carl Malthouse. Full back Gavin Sams then tore 50 metres into the opposition half before releasing fellow South African Christiaan Brandt to score under the posts. Smart converted. Soon after this, Ports player/coach Bill Langley had to be replaced suffering a serious rib injury.



After an extended hiatus the players started for a shortened second half with 13 players. It was inevitable that Heathfield would score and quickly did. At this point Heathfield seemed assured of victory until Darren Watts, Sams and Brandt connected again for a try which saw Brandt leave the defence flat footed as he touched down under the posts. Smart duly converted.

Heathfield did score another two tries, but each score was hard earned. Fantastic defence from Mick Berry and Craig Barningham held back a powerful Heathfield pack, both Berry and Barningham proving to be a real physical presence all over the field.

So another defeat but a display of fluid, confident rugby from the Cinque Ports. Manager Gavin Thomas said "We lost the game, but we never stopped trying to play exciting rugby. Our two tries proved we can play the game with ball in hand. Unfortunately Rugby now is a 22 man game and that's where we fall short". Brandt was named man of the match.

Team: Berry, Langley, Davies, Maplesden, Parker, Whittington, Barningham, Smart, Brandt, Watts, Whyte, Malthouse, Thomas, Sams