Young East Grinstead side show their continued development with fine victory

Sussex Canterbury Jack Intermediate League

Heathfield II 3

East Grinstead Development 18

East Grinstead turned in a quality performance which had their rivals for promotion struggling to make any headway and the result never really in doubt from the half-time whistle onwards.

The first 10 minutes were a see-saw of territorial kick and return, with neither side making much progress and the home team taking a 3-0 lead from a penalty.

The loss of the Heathfield fly-half to injury after 15 minutes, put paid to the home team's running ambitions and with the Grinstead pack increasingly dominant, particularly in the tight, the game started to turn in the visitors' favour.

A spell of constant pressure in the Heathfield 22 finally yielded an attacking five metre scrum which the smaller G's pack, for the second week running, drove over the try-line for Kenny Roser to touch down.

A penalty late in the half for coming in at the side of a ruck gave Grinstead an 8-3 half-time lead.

The second half was all G's - a constant barrage of attack saw Roser twice over the try-line, once from good interplay with Jim Smith and the second from another five metre scrum; both adjudged held up by the referee.

Grinstead had almost complete dominance in the tight scrimmage now and with Heathfield committing a string of penalties in their own 22, it was simply a matter of time before the visitors extended their lead.

From an attacking lineout, the G's pack secured the ball and with the Heathfield line beckoning, it was Tudor Carr who smuggled the ball away to cross untouched on the blindside.

The home team came straight back from the kick-off and enjoyed their best period of the game with time in the Grinstead half.

The defence held firm though, typified by the tackling of Geordie Kellas and Max Dewing, and although fortunate not to have lost a player to a yellow card for not retreating at a quickly-taken penalty, always looked likely to keep Heathfield at bay.

Eight minutes from the end came the try to seal it, and the move of the game.

Grinstead broke from their own 22 and with the outstanding Dewing twice taking on the ball, finally released Anthony Jones to burst through the defence and find himself in a one-on-one with the Heathfield full-back.

Carr picked the perfect line though and when Jones was tackled, was on hand for the pop pass to glide in for his second.

Grinstead face Norfolk Arms at home this weekend.

East Grinstead: Gray, Baptist, Thomas, Ingham, Foster, Carr, Sands, Morgan, Jones, J Smith, Holland, Kellas, Dewing, Mountain, Roser, S Lewis, D Jones, Marriott, Carter.