For the first league game of the season, we welcomed Haywards Heath to Saint Hill. Unfortunately the freshly formed Haywards Heath second team could only field 10 players, but wanting a game, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath agreed to play 10s rugby. Haywards Heath put up a decent defence for the first 10 minutes but an inside line from Max Crawley-Moore saw him over the try line with a conversion from Jack Billin.

Kick off from Hayward Heath sunk the ball deep into our half but the boys worked the ball across the pitch and after a few phases found an opening for Stanley Kennett down the edge for a 50m dash across the line.

East Grinstead defended a determined Haywards Heath attack but kept them away from the try line. Some shaky positioning and pour discipline created a number of possession exchanges, but heads up rugby won the day with Jack Billin running in three try’s in quick succession making 2 of his conversions.

Haywards Heath were not going to role over and kept on fighting making back a try shortly before half time. Just before the half time whistle a high tackle meant Rory Evens saw yellow. Unfortunately the player for Haywards Heath failed his HIA so Rory returned for the opposition!!

The second half saw some decent attack and defence from both sides but ultimately heads dropped from Haywards Heath after Dave Bridges made a 25m dash to the try line. Jack Billin managed to run in three consecutive try’s making one of his conversions followed by Dan Arnold scoring too, with Jack Billin scoring the final conversion and earning him man of the match.

Thank you to Haywards Heath for giving us a game in challenging circumstances and for the EG lads who played for them.