Following the team’s impressive displays when winning the Heathfield and Uckfield festivals at the end of the 2005/06 season there was much expectation at the start of the squad’s first year of playing Sussex League rugby. Eastbourne’s first two opponents in the East Sussex section of the league were Hove B away, followed three weeks later by Hellingly at home on 12 November.

The omens against Hove were not auspicious. Only patchy form had been shown in the build up to the game, the Hove side were an unknown quantity and a number of key Eastbourne squad members were missing. Added to this the weather, which was appalling, was unlikely to assist Eastbourne’s normally expansive game. Fears though proved to be unfounded as a couple of early scores settled any lingering nerves.

Will Bettles, though playing in an unaccustomed position at fly half, demonstrated good distribution skills throughout to go with his usual hard running and elusiveness. The revelation of the match though was the form of the flanker Daniel Woods who probably played his best game in an Eastbourne shirt. Always hard-working, Daniel took any number of Hove restarts showing power and determination in making excellent ground on every occasion.

Despite the conditions the Eastbourne backs showed fine handling skills in moving the ball to the wings where the opposition were consistently exposed. The match under the league rules was effectively over by half time when the maximum permitted points gap of 40 had been achieved. The Hove development side gallantly agreed to continue into the second half in order to gain further experience.

The conditions couldn’t have been more different for the match against Hellingly which was played on a glorious day for running rugby in Eastbourne. Tom Biltcliffe returned after injury to the fly half berth allowing Will Bettles to return to his favoured left wing position.

From the start the Eastbourne pack won a glut of quality possession allowing Biltcliffe to set the backs free in a fine display of running rugby with Bettles and newcomer Jake Giles seemingly in a private competition to show their finishing prowess on the wings. Callum Dunk, though unused to playing at fullback, showed good timing in joining the line and also pace in scoring a try of his own.

The pack, ably marshalled by James O’Donnell, continued to win the lions share of possession and there were outstanding performances from Patrick Feist and Piers Newman, at 2nd row and prop respectively, in constantly putting their opponents on the back foot.

Despite stiffening Hellingly resistance the all-important 40 point mark was passed early in the second half, leaving Eastbourne with maximum league points and try differential after their first two games.

Players interested in joining the Eastbourne Under 13 squad should contact Paul Feist on 07971 579443