Hove RFC   17 - 14  Guernsey RFC
h/t 3- 0

Match Report by Roger Edmondson, County President


What a brilliant day for Hove RFC on Saturday afternoon - a win by 17 points to 14 over Guernsey to gain promotion to London 1 South for the first time in their history. Please accept the congratulations of Sussex RFU for your greatest ever achievement.

The match was won in the first ten minutes of the first half with outstanding defending stopping at least three certain tries. An early penalty for Hove calmed the nerves and allowed us to reach Half Time leading 3-0.

Second half began with a Guernsey converted try followed by a match delay for the paramedics to remove an injured Guernsey centre to hospital.  Hove coaches looked to focus their team and were rewarded with a brilliant break by Adam Phillips for a converted try and then an interception by Ben Coulson saw him run 60 metres only to be caught by the Guernsey winger but Ben kept his head to pass to that man Phillips to score another converted try to put Hove 17 - 7 in the lead. A converted Guernsey try in the last minute gave Guernsey hope but this was dashed when from the Kick Off when the Guernsey player caught the ball, was turned by a Hove player who pinched the ball for Hove to kick the ball to touch for a memorable victory. 

My man of the match was David Wattam who covered every part of the field tackling every Guernsey player with the ball and being at the centre of the Hove attacking plan - not bad for a 36 year old. 

Finally congratulations to Gary Henderson and Martin McTaggert for producing a quality 1st XV at Hove. It seems a long time ago that Gary was a teacher at Tideway, Sussex appointed him a YDO, I asked him to join me to coach the Sussex U15 County side (included three  England U18 players Hampson(Hove), Sobanjo(Christ Hospital) and Higgins(Christ Hospital) and he has risen through the RFU ranks to being Coaching supremo at the RFU. 

It was good to see an excellent turn out of Hove RFC sponsors and supporters for lunch. Sussex hopes you will enjoy your promotion and meet Chichester and Haywards Heath next season in London 1 South. Best wishes for a very successful season.