Sussex Rugby results including Worthing, Haywards Heath

Worthing were unfortunate to lose a back-and-forth match against Canterbury punctuated by sin bins and scores, writes Chris Coulson.

Raiders were denied a vital win with the last play of the game when a contested decision on the try line went the way of the hosts.

The final score comes as Worthing finished the game defending with just 13 men and will rue receiving five of seven cards issued in the game.

Despite having plenty of possession Canterbury kicked the first points of the game. However, a break from Ben Featherstone set up a well-executed catch and drive from the lineout for Jack Lake to score.

Raiders furthered their lead midway through the first half when Harrison Sims’ burst through for a 40m break to dive down under the posts.

Canterbury hit back despite receiving the first card of the match, narrowing the lead to four points.

However, from the restart Worthing regathered the ball and capitalised on their man advantage when Jack Doorey-Palmer finished off a move under the sticks.

Raiders received a yellow card after thirty-five minutes with Dan Macadams sent to the sin bin, and a poor defensive scrum led to Canterbury picking up a converted try to close the gap before the break.

Raiders were forced into early subs in the second half due to injury and were put further on the back foot when Ethan Clarke was sin binned for a scrum offence.

But when Canterbury were penalised deep in Raiders’ territory, Louis Ellis’s 50m touch finder down provided the visitors with the platform to build a sweeping attack ending with Caleb Ashworth powering over to score.

The hosts replied with a converted try and quickly followed it with another, taking the lead for the first time in the game at 29-26.

With both sides receiving yellow cards one after another, Harrison Sims made good use of the added space to dart up the blindside close to the try line for his second score of the day.

Sin bins for Charlie Clare and then Ed Grinsted put pressure on Raiders deep into the match but Worthing continued to defend with just 13 players.

However, Canterbury snatched the win from Worthing with the final act of the match. A contested try decision went the way of the hosts and Worthing saw their points haul reduced from five to two at the death.

Haywards Heath 17 Seaford 16

Haywards Heath v Seaford (Image: Tracey Spuyman)

Haywards Heath scraped to a narrow victory on the road after coming from behind to beat a competitive Seaford side, writes Tracey Spuyman.

Tries for Chris Neill, Wilf Bridges and Jamie Thurston helped heath to a one-point win despite coughing up regular penalties.

Despite being one of the sides worst performances of the season the visitors were still able to steal away four points away from home after a full-on January schedule.

Having dominated the early exchanges with their pack Seaford’s fly half helped to kick the team ahead for the first points of the day.

Despite defending their own territory for much of the first half Heath took their first real chance of the match, breaking into the opposition 22. A long pass to full back Neill on the end of an overlap secured a slim lead for the visitors.

However, Seaford were further ahead at the half time break after a bursting run from their second row capitalised on their territorial control. A breakdown penalty slotted through the posts added to Heath’s woes.

Despite the deficit the visitors rebounded with dynamic handling to try and tire out the Seaford pack.

A bulldozing leg drive from captain Wilf Bridges saw him over the line to reduce the deficit.

Deep into the match Seaford extended their lead after Heath conceded further breakdown penalties to stall their own momentum.

However, scrum half Jamie Thurston sniped a hole in the Seaford defensive front and under the posts for a decisive final score with flyhalf Tom Wharton kicking the all-important conversion.

Chichester 22 Witney 24

Chichester were denied a crucial win by a late try but came away with a losing bonus point on a trip to Witney, writes Simon Tanner.

Despite a convincing lead at half time the Blues were held to a single penalty in the second half as they fell 22-24 to the hosts.

Chichester began on the back foot when a set piece move penetrated their defence for the first score.

However, the blues rallied when Matereti Waqanisau charges down the touchline from a lineout to set up scrumhalf Josh Stops for the score.

Waqanisau again proved decisive as Chichester took the lead midway through the half with Alex Einchcomb finishing a superb try out wide.

After Witney were reduced to 14 Chichester looked to capitalise and after a maul from a lineout was stopped illegally Number Eight Huw Binfield shot off the second rolling maul to dot down.

Despite a second sin bin leaving Witney to continue the game with 14 men the hosts rallied. A lineout deep in Chichester territory was followed by an onslaught of forward drives which ended in a score.

Seconds later, Witney were able to capitalise on a Chichester error for a quick score to narrow the lead to two points.

After Elliot Haydon’s penalty increased the lead to a score, Chichester were stunned when Witney completed their comeback from a blocked box kick five minutes from time, winning the footrace to the ball and kick the conversion to take a 24-22 lead.

Chichester will take a losing bonus point away from the game but now face a must-win match against Reading next weekend.

Full scores this weekend:

• Brighton 44 Bournemouth 35
• Horsham 17 Maidenhead 29
• East Grinstead 38 Old Walcountians 19
• Eastbourne 26 Old Tiffinians 48
• Hove 46 Trinity 5
• Chichester II 10 Basingstoke 42
• Crowborough 29 Charlton Park 17
• Heathfield and Waldron 21 Thanet Wanderers 20
• Hastings and Bexhill 26 Gravesend II 3
• Rye 39 Folkestone II 7
• Bognor 49 Worthing Azurians 17
• Burgess Hill 24 Shoreham 32
• Pulborough 57 Crawley 0
• Uckfield 6 Brighton II 28
• Ditchling 40 Eastbourne II 0
• Lewes 40 Barns Green 0
• Horsham Barbarians 3 Jersey 21
• Crowborough II 0 Newick LP 40
• Hellingly 26 Heathfield and Waldron II 5
• Shoreham II 28 Midhurst 41
• Littlehampton 23 St Francis 28
• Seaford II 17 Hastings and Bexhill II 19
• Worthing Knights 27 Lewes II 17
• Bognor Walkover Win against Alton

Postponed:

• St Leonards CP vs Eastbourne III