Dave Wattam played the role of all-rounder to perfection and helped set up Sussex for the toughest assignment in County Championship rugby.

The Haywards Heath flanker found himself on the wing for almost half an hour of Saturday's home opener with Kent at Roundstone Lane after centre Roly Killeen was red-carded on his county debut.

He responded with his second try of the game as the hosts clung on for an impressive 30-23 success, which sets up a quarter final trip to Launceston to meet mighty Cornwall next Saturday.

There were also tries for Alex Meredith and Jack Smallman, plus two conversions, a penalty and a drop goal for Ben Coulson, as Sussex overhauled an early temporary deficit.

Wattam said: "We've got a fantastic team spirit and that got us through. It was backwards and forwards but there was a lot of heart from our guys."

He admitted it was something of a shock to find himself out on the touchline having started in the back row, from where he grabbed Sussex's opening try in support of a Glenn Rankin charge from a close-range scrum.

Wattam added: "I thought he (Killeen) had been sin-binned. Fifteen minutes later I said to the ref 'What about the sin-bin, sir? Can't he come back on yet?'

"Then he told me it was a red card and I was out on the wing for the rest of the game."

Poor tackling was partly to blame for tries by Thorpe and Harver which gave Kent their 10-3 lead in the first quarter of the contest.

Wattam's first strike was followed by two super tries from the half back combination.

Scrum half Meredith was first to go over after full back Andy Cook had joined the line and swapped passes with winger Coulson.

Then teenager Smallman scored with his first touch in County Championship rugby, having come on as a temporary replacement for outside half Jon Graham.

Again Cook, such an enterprising runner from deep, was heavily involved in the move, along with Terry Butler, before Smallman cut in on an unstoppable angle and made it to the line.

Tries from Bingham and outstanding No. 8 Aseme hauled it back to 22-20 early in the second half, which was when Killeen was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident.

Sussex were wobbling a little then but Coulson's drop goal, some superb defence and Wattam's crowning moment secured the win.

Now thoughts turn to the West Country and the ultimate test.

Sussex: Cook, Coulson, Killeen, Butler, C. Davies, Graham, Meredith; Bruce, Hemsley, Shadbolt, Cox, Lyall, Levett, Rankin, Wattam.

Reps: (all used): Kruger, Smallman, Bradford, Bennett, Denslow, Ure, D. Davies.