Skipper Phil Ward has admitted the Christmas break is coming at the wrong time for his resurgent Hove side.

The London Four South East outfit made it two wins in eight days as they overcame visitors Beccehamians 20-13 on Saturday.

Ward, whose try and five goal points helped them recover from 10-0 down for a deserved win, said: "We would have liked to have had another game this week.

"We are putting out a settled side at last and we are holding our own at home, which is pleasing."

Hove's 100 per cent record in the league at Hove Park was under threat when Martin Hennesy, Beccs' talented but short-tempered outside half, scored a try, conversion and penalty in the first 15 minutes.

Hove replied with a disputed penalty try, awarded for Lewis Woodham's reckless tackle on Mark Belton.

Ward converted, then made the most of untidy defending for a gift try, but Hennesy's penalty put Beccs 13-12 up at the break.

A Ward penalty restored the home advantage on 52 minutes and, as the pack took command, scrum half James Finlayson settled it with a late try from a close range lineout.

Eastbourne bounced back to form in impressive style by beating Bognor 36-5 at Park Avenue.

Conditions were excellent and home prop Graham Shiret said: "We are a different side in the dry."

Full back Greg Hunt and outside half Ollie Cummins scored two tries apiece with back row men Andy Hebron and Neil Burfield also crossing. Cummins kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Lee Williams replied but Bognor skipper Tom Spurle admitted: "Eastbourne ran us off the park."

Heathfield's lack of training again cost them dear as they surrendered a five-point half-time lead to go down 17-13 at home to title-chasing Dunstonians.

Tries from Ian Jenkins and Ian Thompson, plus a Lewis Beale penalty, put Heath 13-8 up.

Simon Burns replied with two penalties before visiting skipper Mark Slade clinched it with a fine drop goal. Ian Pressney was Dunstonians' try scorer in the first half.

HIGH-scoring Owen Ashton regained his kicking form just in time to land a crucial blow for Haywards Heath in the title race.

Ashton landed two second half penalties as Heath came from behind to win 6-5 at London Two South arch rivals Canterbury.

But there were a few nails being bitten when he stepped up for the crucial kick having missed four of his previous five attempts.

Ashton admitted: "Normally I would expect to put that kick over 100 times out of 100 but it was getting very fraught so it didn't seem so easy.

"I had a few worries before I took it but I would have been in real trouble if I had missed again.

"Normally I kick better when the pressure is on but Saturday was probably my most dodgy game of the season."

The hosts missed an even easier chance in the dying stages of a tense contest.

Ashton added: "Everyoyne was quite excited. Some of the guys had been to Canterbury a number of times and always come away disappointed.

"We are in the box seat now because we have played a lot of away games but we know there are teams in this division who can turn over the top guys."

It was a bruising, forward-dominted affair, with Dave Cook and the outstanding Dave Atkin both picking up injuries.

There were was late drama too in London Three South East as Brighton scored two tries in the last ten minutes to salvage a 17-10 win at Crawley.

The visitors took a battering for 70 minutes, with skipper Gary Henderson taken to hospital with a head injury and Mark Gibb sin-binned.

Henderson was allowed home on Saturday evening. Brighton coach Steve Dunnill admitted: "The boys had to dig really deep but I always thought if we could get up their end we could get back in it."

Julian Hutchens, back at scrum half, and winger Paul Charlton scored the crucial tries. Charlton converted both to add to his earlier penalty.

Richard Billings scored both Crawley tries and team-mate Mike Gosling admitted: "I couldn't see us losing."

Fullback Ben Coulson played a key role as Worthing won 18-10 at home to East Grinstead.

He kicked a conversion and two penalties and provided the clever cross kick from which Neal Weston rounded off a sweeping move for the killer try.

Scrum half Matt Knowlton also scored after being drafted in as understudy to Mike Imrie.

Gs had plenty of pressure but could manage just a Paul Day try when they were already 15 points down. Steve O'Reilly kicked a conversion and penalty.

Worthing have lined up a prestige friendly for Saturday when Rosslyn Park's development squad visit Roundstone Lane (2.15pm).