Uckfield have revealed the secret of their record-breaking results - an indoor training ground.

The Sussex One outfit have been hiring out Crockstead Equestrian Centre to ensure they can train in the dry. While other teams have been forced to abandon their waterlogged training pitches, coach Ian Jenkins has been putting his men through two quality sessions a week.

The results have been spectacular. They set a new club record when they thrashed Newick in a pre-Christmas league clash. Two weeks ago, they went even better by demolishing Royal & Sun Alliance 116-0 to go top of the table on points difference.

They were back out there 24 hours later, this time beating Hellingly to reach the last four of the Sussex Intermediate Shield. The same club were their victims in the league last Saturday with Uckfield 26 points clear at the break before settling for a 29-6 away win.

No wonder skipper Phil Rowland declared: "Confidence is sky high.

"Having somewhere to train indoors makes a difference. It's got a dust surface which takes a stud and is about threequarters of the length of a rugby pitch. We book it out from 7-9pm twice a week.

"We have been working on handling skils and getting the forwards and backs to link up and it has been evident that our fitness levels have improved. We are really going strong in the last 20 minutes."

Tries have been shared around, with Nick Ridley (4) and the skipper (3) leading the way against RSA.

Darren Nicholls, Darren Clarke and Jim Billings bagged two apiece with Lee Bialik, Rob Hadgkiss and Duncan Hale also crossing.

Lock David Cole then got in on the act against Hellingly with two tries and Phil Rowland grabbed another.

One man who missed out was the skipper's brother Tim, who plays on the wing but was ruled out of the weekend double bill by a chest infection.

He was joined on the touchline by the duo's father Andy, who is club chairman.

Skipper Tim added: "To go out there on the Sunday and win 26-11 was a phenomenal result.

"We used 18 players in that game and 17 had played for either the first or second team on Saturday. Our aim was to win the league and the Sussex Intermediate Shield and I think we can do that.

"I see the league being between ourselves, Hastings and Horsham but what we have got to our advantage is our strength in depth.

"We are also very aware of the importance of points difference."

With more than 200 points in their last two games, Uckfield are sitting pretty on that score with plus 320.

Hastings are on plus 161 with Horsham, who have one more defeat to their name than the top two, on plus 169.

It is still anybody's title with more than half the season to go.

But no-one is likely to overhaul Uckfield all the time Rowland's men keep winning at a canter.