After a confident win against close rivals Crawley the on-form Blues and Golds hoped for a relatively easy contest against Chichester's third team. However, absences due to injury and other commitments meant they would be travelling the fifty miles to Chichester without at least seven of their first-choice players. This was then , on paper, a banana skin to be avoided.

The young new-look Chichester III XV was about to test Eastbourne's resolve and early on exchanges were even. Conditions underfoot were good and the teams had the benefit of playing on the home-side's 1st XV pitch. But after five minutes a loose ball gathered badly by Chichester led to the ever-vigilant Tom Redman snapping up an opportunity to poach and he was away at speed to run forty yards for a try under the posts. Fly-half Aaron Stevenson added the conversion. Good runs by Eastbourne's backs, Max Cheater, Charlie Smith and Steve Clarke led to territorial gains and an infringement by Chichester in front of their posts. Aaron Stevenson added the points from the ensuing penalty. Ten minutes into the game and Eastbourne were leading by 10-0.

But an even contest followed with the home-team fighting back and gaining two penalties in the space of a few minutes. Despite good efforts on both sides no tries were scored again in this half. After half an hour Chichester added another penalty and Eastbourne were hanging on to a very slender lead. Great tackling by Eastbourne prevented the home-side from gaining advantage, however. At half-time the score remained 9-10 despite Eastbourne's best efforts and a dominant scrum beginning to strut its stuff at the set-pieces.

Eastbourne started the second with added vigour, getting good turn-over ball and keeping the opposition at bay. A further penalty by Aaron Stevenson gave the visitors an extra three-points. Subs Matt Hayllar and Dan Keen came on to replace tired bodies. Despite good possession Eastbourne was unable to add to the score-board early on in the half.

But a good build up with runs by the forwards Matt Webb, Tom Shuttleworth and Liam Goldsmith, vociferous in his encouragement of his team-mates, led finally to a splendid try by lock Ricky van Bentham playing his best match so far this season. The conversion failed but Eastbourne were now leading 9-18 with twenty minutes to go.

A wave of attacks by Eastbourne led to Tom Shuttleworth being held up on the line; and good possession by the scrum, now totally dominant, led to a hard-earned try by Martin King on full-time. The five-pointer remained unconverted and Eastbourne came away with a 9-23 victory and a perfect record at the top of the table.

Eastbourne had the best of a tough, combative and clean contest, played in a fine spirit with fair refereeing.

Team: Liam Goldsmith, Tom Shuttleworth, Matt Webb, Chris Chilvers, Ricky van Bentham, Tom Redman, Joe Hibben, Stef Cousins, Sid Hiremutt, Aaron Stevenson, Charlie Smith, Martin King, Steve Clarke, Adam Tennant, Max Cheater, Dan Keen, Matt Hayller.

Man of the Match: Skipper Steve Clarke. The Nomads also beat Newick 1st XV at home.

Next week Eastbourne host Reigate in the Junior Vase at Hampden Park : kick-off 1215.