Worthing are heading to Christmas firmly on course for promotion after blitzing neighbours Brighton.

The London Three South East leaders won 29-3 at Waterhall, helped by a magnificent forward performance which surprised even their own coach Ian Davies.

Front five men Del Howard and Charlie McGowan struck inside 25 minutes and the visitors broke through some spirited Brighton defence to add three tries in the second half.

Davies admitted: "The performance shocked me to be honest. We had lot of worries coming into the game.

"We couldn't finalise a side until Thursday because of injuries but we stuck at it.

"That's the best we have played without a shadow of a doubt, but there's still more to come.

"Nothing has changed for us. We are still top of table and have got to win every game."

Worthing tend to blow hot and cold but it was obvious within the first ten minutes that they really fancied Saturday's challenge.

Hooker Howard got the first try off the back of a rolling maul, then lock Charlie McGowan got over in support of a break from strong running No. 8 Paul Cox.

McGowan and Steve Imrie almost added to the tally before Geraint Jones replied for Brighton with a well-struck penalty.

Jones's left boot also played a part in Worthing's decisive third try straight after the break.

He wildly fly-hacked the ball behind for a five-metre scrum, from which Alistair Wood rifled out a pass to send Alistair Coombe in at the flag.

Skipper Mike Imrie rounded things off, working a crash ball move to put Charlie Cooper in before breaking away for a try himself, which Tony Cruz converted.

It was a tough afternoon for home coach Bert Merritt, who had seen his side win their four previous matches to emerge as promotion hopefuls.

He promised: "We have turned it round once and we will do it again.

"We got beaten up front. They put us under pressure early on, we turned over too much ball and never really got back in the game.

"I expected them to be fairly strong up front but what surprised me was our body positions and ball retention were not up to the standard they have been in the past four or five weeks.

"We never really got out of our half and that has not what has been happening in the past four or five games."

East Grinstead would have gone top had Worthing slipped up but they were happy enough to stay level on points by winning 25-0 away to a battling Lewes side.

A lone Steve O'Reilly penalty separated the sides at the break. He kicked another before an 80-yard move allowed speedy Paul Goodwin to score the first try.

O'Reilly converted and later goaled Alex Ingham's score. Nigel Yeo also crashed over after a catch and drive.

That makes it ten successive wins in league and cup for Gs.

Crawley remain rooted to the bottom after a 45-0 defeat at Sidcup.

Bognor are back into the promotion places ahead of their London Four South East trip to leaders Betteshanger a week on Saturday.

They came from five points down for a hard fought 15-10 home win over fellow promotion chasers Folkestone and skipper Karl Flynn believes they can topple the leaders.

He said: "We are quietly confident. We have been hitting a bit of form lately."

Tom Spurle's try, converted by Andy Shipp, plus a Stuart Pearce penalty helped Bognor to 10-10. Then Flynn broke from the back of a scrum to send winger Mark Stevens in at the corner for the winning try.

There were still 15 minutes to go but Bognor defended well to cling onto the win.

Betteshanger almost slipped up on Saturday, winning 24-23 at Guy's Hospital, but Flynn warned: "The race isn't over yet."

Eastbourne moved up to third after scoring five tries in their 28-5 home win over Cranbrook.

Wingers Matt Bremer (2) and Paul Newell got over, as did forwards Andy Hebron and Andy Lovell. There were no conversions but Jamie Bremer kicked a penalty.

Committee man Graham Shiret missed the game because of a spying mission in the west country.

Eastbourne host Spartans in the Intermediate Cup on Saturday and Shiret studied them in action against Avonmouth OB in Gloucester Premier. He said: "It will be interesting. They were a big and physical side."

Uckfield were given a fright at bottom club Askeans before emerging 13-12 winners. They were 13-0 up at half-time through a Russ Figg try plus two penalties and a conversion from the reliable boot of Henry Hadow.

Hove remain in relegation danger after their 23-12 defeat Beccehamian.

They were always struggling after failing to take full advantage of playing down the slope in the first half.

Darryl Elliott was outstanding in the back row and scored one of the Hove tries as they reduced arrears to a single score at one stage in the second half.

Skipper John Oades said: "I thought it was a decent showing by our lads"

Hove complete their pre-Christmas programme with a tough trip to Folkestone and will be looking for a few wins at Hove Park in the New Year.