Bognor completed their pre-season preparations with a hard-earned 19-5 victory over Haywards Heath on the excellent 4G surface at Burgess Hill, producing a performance packed with positives as attention now turns to the visit of Winchester on 26th September and the start of Regional 2 rugby.

From the opening whistle, Bognor looked sharp. Their defence was organised, aggressive and well-drilled across the park, while powerful carries from Foote and Hay repeatedly put the visitors on the front foot. Up front, the Bognor scrum enjoyed a productive afternoon, with the front row earning a succession of penalties and giving the travelling supporters plenty to cheer. The lineout also functioned smoothly, providing a steady stream of quality possession.

Despite dominating territory and possession for long periods, Bognor found themselves frustrated by the final pass. A mixture of pre-season rustiness and over-eagerness meant several promising attacks broke down just when the try line appeared within touching distance. Had the final pass been as accurate as the scrum, the scoreboard operator might have needed a drinks break.

Haywards Heath's talented fly-half used his kicking game cleverly to pin Bognor back on occasions, but the visitors gradually found space through some excellent running from Spray and Halligan. Pemberton then produced one of the moments of the match, stepping out of defence and embarking on a thrilling run that briefly had the travelling faithful dreaming of a length-of-the-field score. Unfortunately, the move ended without points, leaving supporters scratching their heads at the unfamiliar sight of a scoreless half-time scoreboard.

The breakthrough finally arrived after the interval. Excellent handling and patience from the Bognor backs created the opening, with Herrington timing his run perfectly to cross for the opening try of the afternoon.

Soon after, Foote delivered a beautifully judged inside pass that sent the rampaging Rimmer charging through. What happened next surprised many observers. Rimmer, not generally known for his sprinting prowess, suddenly discovered Olympic pace and thundered over for Bognor's second try. Newton-Young added the conversion.

Bognor's afternoon was not entirely without incident. Ill-discipline crept into the game, culminating in Voight's interpretation of rugby law appearing to include elements of Olympic judo. The referee was understandably unconvinced, and his afternoon came to an early conclusion.

Haywards Heath capitalised on a period of pressure after Bognor failed to clear their lines. Despite determined and courageous defence, the home side eventually crossed for their only score, narrowing the gap and ensuring a tense finish.

However, Bognor had the final say. A well-rehearsed first-phase backs move opened up the defence beautifully, allowing Norrell to canter over. Dent added the conversion to complete the scoring and put the finishing touches on a successful afternoon's work.

There was plenty for the coaching staff to be pleased with: a dominant set piece, strong defence, physical ball carrying and some fluency in attack. With pre-season now complete, all eyes turn to Hampshire Avenue on 26th September when Winchester arrive for Bognor's first Regional 2 fixture.

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