Haywards Heath are learning some harsh lessons about national league rugby.

They went down 22-10 in a torrid battle at Weston-super-mare in their first away fixture of the Division Three South campaign, despite spending long spells on the attack.

Heath had their hosts on the back foot for the third quarter of the game as they clawed their way back from 13-0 down to 13-10.

They even had a penalty chance to level, but Jon Groenen's attempt from a central position was off target.

Weston punished them with two penalties from Martin Lambourne and a late drop goal from James Wiseman to settle the outcome.

Scrum half Matt Britton's try, plus the conversion and two penalties from Lambourne, appeared to have put Weston in control in the first half.

Hooker Gordon Denslow, however, got the final touch to a driving lineout and Groenen's angled conversion sent Heath to the break with renewed hope.

They were back to 13-10 when Groenen landed his second penalty on 60 minutes.

Heath flanker Will DeGruchy, a New Zealander signed in the summer, was the outstanding forward on the park with some superb driving play.