The last time Pulborough visited Hampden Park ,they ran out winners to complete an unbeaten season. This time it was the Eastbourne pack who took the game to the visitors and ensured a memorable victory. However the West Sussex side showed why they are so well regarded and for a period in the third quarter, they appeared to be clawing their way back into the game by using the slope for the first time. At 25-24, the spectators had to endure a nervous few minutes until Chris Chilvers, who had a fine all round game, crashed over with seconds remaining to secure the home win.

The first half saw plenty of excellent rugby from the Blue & Golds. James Grey scored after plentiful early possession and then Ben Barter added a further 5 points following a flowing move across the width of the pitch. Pulbrough were kept in the game by their kicker and their first try levelled the scores at 10-10 after 20 minutes. However the dominant home pack were enjoying tight and loose play and a driving maul led to a try for Josh Imich. On the half hour Bettles won a heel against the head and skipper Steve Clark was on hand to claim the score. Then with half time looming, winger Charlie Smith ran through the defence leaving his team-mate Nick King to finish the move. 25-10 looked to be a useful lead at the break.

It was in the third quarter that things turned in favour of the Black & White hoops. First they had the slope in their favour which they used very well. Nick King sustained an injury and was helped from the field and a yellow card reduced Eastbourne to 14 men, who whilst defending robustly could never maintain the cover indefinitely. A failure to call a mark put Pulborough back into contention with an opportunistic try for 25-17 and then minutes later the scoreline became 25-24 after a defensive error that let the visitors in again.
So it was to the last nervous last 10 minutes and then on to the Chilvers try; what is more the icing on the cake was the magnificent conversion by Aaron Stevenson which added the extra 2 points. The team can now recover before travelling to Uckfield on 24th October

Eastbourne: Imich, Bettles, Chilvers, Mottram, farley, Redman, Grey, Sinclair, Pysden, McKay, King, Clark, Barter, Smith, Stevenson, Cousins, Van Bentham, Hiremutt

Man of the match: Matt Pysden for service behind a rampant pack of forwards