Promoted Eastbourne and Lewes both made winning starts in London Three SE.

Eastbourne defeated Charlton Park 17-7 while Lewes were 31-26 winners over Betteshanger, the other side to come up last season.

Brothers Matt and James Bremmer were among Eastbourne's scorers against a Charlton Park side who had a player sent off for punching in a ruck. The visitors also had two players sin-binned while Eastbourne's Dominic Gronin picked up a yellow card in an often bad-tempered game.

Robert Light got Eastbourne's opening try while their third score was converted by Ollie Cummins.

Eastbourne's Graham Shiret said: "We should have won more comfortably. We had 70 per cent of the possession but for a first outing at this level it was a good start for us."

The referee was even busier at Lewes where five players, including home trio Dave Hemsley, debutant Chris Brant and Duncan Barton, were all sin-binned.

Lewes led 19-5 at the break, but the visitors drew level when Lewes were down to 13 men only for the hosts to pull away again when Betteshanger found themselves two men short late in the second half.

Hemsley and Barton made up for their indiscretions by scoring tries along with fullback Liam Craig-Davies. The hosts were also awarded two penalty tries while Dave Tyrrell added three conversions.

Brighton went down 14-12 to relegated Gravesend despite tries from Simon Peters and Mark Gibbs and a conversion by Rob Ross.

East Grinstead were beaten 29-8 at Dartfordians, their preparations hindered when hooker Justin Stripp had to drop out on the morning of the match after his wife gave birth. G's trailed 19-3 at the break before rallying in the second half to score a try through Danny Moore.