Mark Edmondson has challenged Lewes to win their next game and beat the drop.

The Lewes captain reckons survival in London Three South East will beckon if they get both points at fellow strugglers Old Midwhitgiftians.

Lewes threw themselves a lifeline with three tries to beat Tonbridge Juddian 15-3 at the Stanley Turner Ground on Saturday.

The result lifted them off the bottom of the table.

In theory two teams should go down but that number could be reduced as Chichester and Bognor switch from South East to South West divisions.

Edmondson, part of a dominant Lewes forward effort, said: "Win next Saturday and we will stay up.

"If we don't win, then we'll just have to beat somebody better in one of our remaining matches.

"This is the most realistic chance of getting another win and we are well up for it."

Steve Mills, Daniel Wade and Rupert Arbuthnot scored the tries which kept Lewes's survival chances alive.

Wade produced a clever pick up and kick through for his score from fullback.

Edmondson admitted: "For once I thought we played badly and won.

"Everybody came off a bit disappointed at the way we played, which is crazy really."

Eastbourne remain in the lower reaches after their part in a thrilling contest at Old Dunstonians went unrewarded.

The Sussex side scored four tries but went down 43-32.

They trailed 28-8 at half-time and kept threatening to get back on terms, without actually managing that final step.

Tries from Matt Thompson and Damon Varney, both converted by Neil Pysden, got them back to 28-22 before Dom Groenen was sin-binned at a crucial stage in the game.

The home lead was 35-22 before Pysden kicked a penalty and converted Steve Clark's try to cut arrears to four.

Dan Mills scored Eastbourne's first-half try, his first for the senior side. Pysden added a penalty.

Chichester had plenty to be upbeat about as they lost 23-8 at leaders Gravesend.

They led 8-3 after Ben Polhill got over from a close-range lineout to add to Nick Stanton's penalty.

Chi had plenty of the game but gave away too many needless penalties in the first half.

Bognor clinched promotion, had a beer and then set their sights on an unbeaten season.

The London Four South East leaders found their form in the second half to win 53-0 at home to Bromley.

They will go up to Three South West next season.

Such is Bognor's domination of this division, with 13 wins out of 13, they now have twice as many points as third-placed Crowborough.

Player/coach Karl Flynn said: "There were no celebrations at getting promotion. We just had a glass of beer in the changing room.

"After last season, when we were relegated, we want to go on and win as many as we can."

Veteran centre Stuart Pearce was the star of the day with a hat-trick of tries after being called in from the second team.

Paul Mitchell (2), Pat Gibbs and Nathan Bond also crossed. Rob Parry kicked six conversions and two penalties.

Hove are closing in on the second promotion place after extending their lead over Crowborough by winning 26-0 at Hastings and Bexhill.

All the points came after the break. Adam Phillips made the breakthrough on 47 minutes by following up when Dan Penney's penalty attempt bounced back off the upright protector and the defending players switched off.

Prop Paul Hasib's try was good reward for for his efforts to get up in support after Jason Ellison lost possession of the ball on the line.

Fellow prop Dom Henderson and back row man Glenn Rankin completed the try tally. Penney kicked three conversions.

H&B's pack gave them the edge in the first half but they were badly affected when lock Pete Mahoney left the action with a broken finger just after the break.

Crowborough's promotion bid is almost over after what they described as a lamentable 11-5 defeat at home to Whitstable.

Warren Malherbe crashed over to put them five points up at one stage.

Horsham did their survival hopes no harm by winning 26-5 at home to Folkestone.

Brothers Tom and Doug Wright both scored tries, as did Michael Tredgett and Luke Arnold. Rob Grantham-Hill added three conversions.

Coach Mark Sillett was delighted. He said: "The forwards were strong and the backs looked more solid than they have for a number of weeks."