Alex Meredith admits he was devastated to see his Haywards Heath side slip up at home.

Now he has targeted three wins before Christmas to ease them towards mid-table in National Three South.

Heath were pipped 18-14 by high-flying Launceston at a wet Whitemans Green after a late James Mackie try had put them within sight of victory.

Skipper Meredith admitted: "It was devastating. It was a game where we knew we were in with a chance all the way through.

"I suppose you have to look at it in a positive way but we thought we played well enough to win the game."

Three Huw Griffin penalties edged Heath ahead after Launceston, playing into a stiff wind, had taken an 8-0 lead.

No. 8 Mike Heynes was driven over from a lineout for a try and Simon Porter kicked a penalty.

Porter's second-half penalty restored the Launceston lead before Jon Graham sent Mackie through a midfield gap.

Griffin's conversion was judged to have gone under the bar, though Heath were convinced it had crept over.

Launceston replied just before the end with another lineout drive for Heynes to score again with Porter goaling.

Meredith added: "A couple of things didn't go our way.

"Their No. 15 put in a massive boot towards the end which stayed in, so we had to kick the ball out and give them the throw-in to the lineout.

"As for the conversion, I'm sure it was over and that would have helped us put a bit more pressure on them.

"At least we are competing with the top sides. It was an incredible forwards performance and I thought the front row were outstanding.

"The whole front five operated as they need to and that allowed our back row freedom to get around the pitch."