Eastbourne 1st XV travelled with a strong and confident squad to Kent rivals Bromley who have been a regular member of London South East Three and were seventh last season.

With swift backs and good possession the home side mounted a number of attacks on the visitors ' line but were hampered by handling errors and good defence. But within ten minutes the Blue and Golds were the first team on the score sheet attacking down the left wing for Aaron Stevenson to touch down for an unconverted try. A few minutes later prop Matt Webb, supporting open play in characteristic fashion, charged over for another five points. The try was converted.

Bromley soon responded and scored their first try. They then added another and converted it. Despite good work by the forwards securing possession, disrupting the home side's scrum and line-out Eastbourne were unable to finish off some good attacking moves. But when the next try came it involved some excellent running by Matt Pysden, Paul Mackie and Nick King who finished off an outstanding combined effort under the posts. James Coulthard converted. Bromley 12- Eastbourne 19.

Equally dramatic and impressive was the next Eastbourne try which started with a long kick to the Eastbourne corner flag by Bromley. Before it bounced into touch it was gathered by the visitors who scored under the posts again after skilful interpassing by Coulthard and Stevenson. The try was converted.

Two more tries by strong-running King and Stevenson whose line-kicking produced some excellent touch finding and a conversion by Coulthard gave a Eastbourne a comfortable lead towards the end of full-time by 31 points to 12. However, Bromley were not finished and came back strongly with well-deserved tries, narrowly failing to draw the match at the end. The visitors clearly tired at the end of the day and, despite some excellent running, tight defence and dominant forwards almost let the Kent side in. But they hung on and came away with a narrow victory and a warning to be ready and fully fit for their first league encounter at Hampden Park next week at 3 p.m. against Hove II's.

The 2nd/3rd XV beat Heathfield 5-0.

First XV Man of the Match: Tom Shuttleworth.

Team: Webb, Shuttleworth, Imich, Mottram, Farley, Redman, Cousins, Ring, Pysden, Mackie, King,
Clarke, Tennant, Smith, Stevenson, Eyre, Hayllar, Hibben, Skeet