Cinque Ports 10 East Grinstead 22 (HT 3-10)

The referee's job is never an easy one, but neither was Cinque Ports job in this Sussex Three tie as two dubious tries gave East Grinstead a very hard fought win.

A very committed Ports side ran out and attacked East Grinstead with vigour and purpose, six phases of play took them up into the Grinstead 22 and desperate defence led to infringement as they killed the ball and Ports momentum. Full back Carl Malthouse swept home the penalty and the home side deservedly led 3-0. East Grinstead fought back, but determined defence held them out. Terry Doorey hit rucks like a freight train, winning the ball back on a number of occasions. With Greg Stokes orchestrating at stand off, centres Shane Potter and Andy Salmon slipped their markers with regularity. Twice Salmon slipped the ball to Luke Price who weaved through the defence but was brought down in the 22. Using a strong wind the visitors started to peg down Ports in their half with kick after kick, and a scramble through the 22 put Grinstead over but despite the ball not being grounded a try was given.

Changes were needed due to injuries as Tom Atkins was replaced by Tony Potter and Scrum Half Chris Eastwood was forced off with Salmon taking his role and Gavin Thomas filling the other wing. Potter made an almost immediate impact with a tackle that smashed through the opposition centre. Another kick put East Grinstead in the corner and a knock on allowed their centre space to dive over in the corner.

The second half saw Ports increase their intensity, but a kick and chase from East Grinstead saw a likely knock on missed and a very early score from the visitors. Immediately Cinque Ports fought back, Potter made a huge amount of yardage his pace and size making tackling very difficult, eventually he was halted but huge gaps caused by his run meant man of the match Steve Crump crashed over. Malthouse easily converted. Crump was a constant presence, tackling with ferocity and being the first point of every attack. At this stage the game was on a knife edge, both sides attacked-but were repulsed. Shane Potter found gaps in the centre but the defence snaffled up Price and Thomas. They were also wise to Tony Potter and defended with desperation whenever the big winger got the ball.

Strong ball carrying by Craig Barningham and Dean Dedman threatened the EG line, with Stokes still twisting and turning leading the defence away from the strong runners. Unfortunately the game was characterised by handling errors by both sides and East Grinstead seized on one to score a fourth try. Ports kept looking for another try, Malthouse and Thomas both held up near the line and on the final whistle the visitors looked relieved.

Team manager Gavin Thomas said "For two periods of twenty minutes East Grinstead were completely outclassed, if we could do that for eighty minutes I'm confident we could really challenge for this league"

Team: Doorey (Langley), Wright, Crump, W Dedman (Earle), Parker, D Dedman, Whittington, Barningham, Eastwood (Thomas), Stokes, Atkins (T Potter), S Potter, Salmon, Price, Malthouse