Sussex Police RFC 24   Cinque Ports 7 (HT 17-7)

The form book always suggested a Police victory was on the cards, after their 60-5 defeat of CPR last season, and in terms of the result the Police did not disappoint. In terms of performance Cinque Ports rocked a Police side, and the 17 point deficit was not a real indicator of the match. Terrible conditions meant that both sides were employing a forward dominated game, the Police pack eased into gear quicker and controlled possession and territory early on. The Police missed an opportunity when they dropped the ball with a 4 man overlap, but good pressure drove the ball over the line for their first unconverted try. Luck seemed to be against Ports when after a period of concerted pressure and solid work in the forwards from Dale Whittington and Gary Swift and the South African backs pair Gavin Sams and Christiaan Brandt they took the ball to within 5 metres of the Police Line only to see a desperate clearing kick bounce into the hands of the Police full back. Ports pushed deep into Police territory again, again the forwards opted for the short game inching their way forward until Whittington burst through again and this time grabbing himself the score. Carl Malthouse duly converted. Concerted pressure made a Ports second seem inevitable until another breakaway resulted in a third Police score. Apart from an early Police try the second half was controlled by Ports. Veteran Terry Doorey and Captain Steve Crump controlled set pieces, and Sams made penetrating runs into Police territory. Despite their pressure Cinque Ports failed to score any more points, but a creditable defeat against a solid Police side. Full back, Sams was named as man of the match.

Cinque Ports Team: Doorey (Butcher 60 Mins), Langley, Swift, Parker, Amar, Perry, Whittington, Barningham, Crump(c), Brandt, Brown, Whyte, Malthouse, Thomas, Sams