ASKEANS 12 UCKFIELD 13

If you have got a weak heart the last thing you want to be is an Uckfield Rugby Club supporter as the side were involved in yet another cliff hanger, but this time with the outcome coming out in the Uckfield clubs favour..

It all started so promisingly for Uckfield against the Leagues bottom side, when after nullifying Askeans early onslaught, they took the lead after 15 minutes with a Henry Hadow penalty , this lead was increased when the Uckfield pack won a line out on the 5 metre line and after taking good ball drove over allowing Mr Uckfield Russ Figg to score his first try of the season. Uckfield continued to dominate the play and a rare penalty miss by Hadow seemed of no consequence, but Askeans came back strongly and it took a try saving tackle from Nick Crane to keep them out. With Brian Maywood having a good game at flanker Hadow increased Uckfields lead to 13-0 on the stroke of half time to give them what looked like a match winning lead.

Uckfields pack which had been so dominant in the first half were suddenly taken aback by a resurgent Askeans side and when Lee Puttock was sin binned they conceded a converted try to bring the score back to 13-7. Worse was to follow as Askeans playing rugby which belied their league position totally dominated the game and scored a try wide out to make it 13-12. There seemed no way that Uckfield could hold on, but they dug deep with captain Phil Rowland making some timely clearances, but it all seemed to no avail when Askeans were awarded a penalty with 5 minutes to go, but amazingly the Askeans full back pulled his kick wide, to allow Uckfield to hang onto a fortunate win.

At last Uckfields luck seems to have turned, after being subjected to some cruel defeats, this was their first win on the road, even though they were missing the influential Pooles who broke down on the way to the match. If they can play this badly and win, the future looks bright when they put their game together.

UCKFIELD 2ND XV 7 CHICHESTER 2ND XV 7

Uckfield welcomed back Dave Cook from his Australian travels, and it was the promising youngster who scored Uckfields try in this evenly fought match, Mark Trathem converted the try, and a draw was a fair result to the match.

Uckfield have a rest week next weekend before entertaining high flying Eastbourne on the 22nd. They will be looking for revenge for their injury time defeat a couple of weeks ago, and will be in good heart after 2 consecutive league wins.