Haywards Heath have moved two big steps closer to a fifth successive Sussex Trophy triumph.

They piled up eight tries to see off Lewes 51-11, then heard that Brighton, expected to be serious challengers for the county crown, had come a cropper 15-13 at unpredictable Eastbourne.

Heath side now face Crawley at Willoughby Fields in the pick of the quarter finals on February 20.

The other ties see Worthing visit Bognor, Eastbourne go to Heathfield and East Grinstead travel to Hove and all four away sides will start as favourites to win through.

Haywards Heath's victory was the perfect farewell for Sussex stars Alex Meredith, who signed off with a couple of late conversions, and Dave Atkin. The duo will miss the run-in after taking jobs in Ireland.

Skipper Henry Goodburn, who only came on for the last ten minutes because of a recent injury, said: "We played some good rugby.

"Lewes's forwards threw a lot at us and Jez King and Gordon Denslow had good games for them, but I thought we dominated when we moved the ball wide."

Centre Vince Rolandi and stand-in captain Dave Wattam each struck twice. There were also tries for Owen Ashton, Mark Pymm, Goodburn and blindside flanker Damian Lyall, a recent signing whose performances have really caught the eye.

Ashton kicked two conversions a penalty.

Lewes didn't have a lot of luck. They played into the wind and hail in the first half, then turned round to find the gale had eased and they now had a dazzling sun in their eyes.

Mark Wignall kicked two penalties and there was a late try for prop Paul Lacey.

Brighton led three times in an enthralling clash at Eastbourne but coach Ian Watkins had no complaints about their first defeat by a Sussex side this season.

He admitted: "Eastbourne played the better rugby and thoroughly deserved their victory.

"My players gave everything but it was a typical derby and Eastbourne kept coming back at us. It was all good stuff."

Eastbourne meanwhile heralded their pack as heroes and praised the control asserted by brothers Danny and Joel Craven at half back.

Lock Danie Venter and prop Paul Britton struck in the first half but Eastbourne wing Gavin Partridge produced a double strike for a 10-10 interval score.

Conrad Burke's drop goal made it 13-10 to Brighton but Jamie Bremer sent Mal Payton clear 12 minutes after the break and Eastbourne were never really threatened after that.

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