Haywards Heath have gone top of London Two South ahead of the biggest league match in their history.

Heath visit second placed Canterbury on Saturday still unbeaten since the opening day of the season thanks to Saturday's battling 23-18 success at Maidstone.

Skipper Henry Goodburn admitted: "It's the biggest game we have ever faced. We have never won at Canterbury but our away record this year has been fantastic."

Heath had to be at their best to grab another away win on Saturday after the game was switched from waterlogged Whitemans Green.

They were 15-3 down after 20 minutes but Alex Meredith replied with an opportunist try after swapping passes with Nick Dinsdale.

Owen Ashton added the conversion to his earlier penalty but a home penalty made it 18-10 at the break.

Heath's pack again impressed, fired on by shrewd tactical kicking from Jon Graham at outside half, and Ashton kicked two more penalties to set up a tight finish.

The crucial score came from a five metre scrum. Scrum half Meredith caught his opposite number in possession and, when the ball ran loose, Dave Cook was on hand to power over. Ashton converted.

Dave Wattam, standing in as captain for the injured Goodburn, said: "We didn't panic when things were not going our way. We had a gameplan which we stuck to and that pulled us through."

Brighton's title hopes in Three South East are all but over after they lost 23-11 at home to leaders Tunbridge Wells and had two points docked by the league.

But coach Steve Dunnill praised his below strength side, who came from ten points down to lead 11-10 for almost half an hour.

Dunnill said: "Wells's fitness and organisation made the difference in the last quarter but I thought we were great until then."

Brighton trailed to John Crees's blindside try plus a penalty and conversion by fullback Hogue. But Hogue turned villain when his fumble gifted flanker James Jeffries a try, which came either side of two Paul Charlton penalties as the hosts deservedly edged ahead.

But Hogue steered Wells back in front with a 60th-minute penalty.

An eventful day for the visiting No.15 was completed in the dying moments when he landed another penalty, then converted his own try.

Brighton's two-point penalty follows their recent win over Lewes when they named an unregistered player among their replacements.

Worthing are back up to third after a 45-0 win at Askeans. Wing Tony Cruz set them on their way while John Quirk, Ben Coulson, Jamie Newhouse and Paul Cox also got over by the break, with Coulson adding the conversions. Terry Butler and Dan Ansty scored in the second half.

Lewes' scrummaging power proved decisive in a dour 8-0 win at Charlton Park. It brought a pushover try on 25 minutes as Treve Tagg touched down. Martin Lovell's late penalty settled matters.

Lewes have abandoned efforts to get the Stanley Turner ground fit for Saturday's NPI Cup tie with Old Albanians but hope to stage the game at Sussex University.

Crawley scored an overdue derby win over East Grinstead when they edged in 13-12 in a thriller at Saint Hill.

Richard Billings scored the only try after a slick move but it was Crawley's defence which really stood out.

Andy Evans kicked a conversion and two penalties while Gs' Steve O'Reilly slotted four penalties against his old club.