Hove hope to have flanker Darryl Elliott back for the New Year as they bid to maintain their recent revival.

Back-to-back home wins over Chichester and Beccehamians have put Phil Ward's men firmly in the middle of London Four South East. Skipper Ward was delighted to lead out an almost unchanged side for the second of those wins last week.

Ward, whose first half try put his side ahead for the first time, said: "Beccs had won three on the trot and came down here expecting to beat us.

"But I thought we stuck at it well, especially when we were 10-0 down, and our discipline was good."

That one change came in the second row where, with Richard Jackson called away on business, Nick Lawrence was drafted in. The veteran front jumper teamed up well with Will Capel to secure plenty of lineout ball, helped by some wayward throwing from the Beccs hooker.

Now Hove are looking forward to their next big test, stirring themselves for action on New Year's Day in the club's traditional Hangover Match.

MAJOR FACES HIS DESTINY: Brighton's coach Steve 'Major' Dunnill believes his side's league destiny will be settled by the end of January.

Dunnill's Three South East outfit kick-off the New Year with games against Askeans and Charlton Park before summit meetings away to Worthing and at home to Sidcup.

The squad were still in full training this week but will head for a Christmas break following this afternoon's friendly with Warlingham. Brighton would have been out of contention already but for an amazing comeback to snatch a 17-10 victory at Crawley last Saturday.

Dunnill said: "The boys really dug deep and showed lots of guts against a big Crawley pack. Crawley should have finished us off when they were 10-3 up but our defence was the key.

"I always thought that if we could get up their end and win a bit of ball we could get back in it. In the end the hard games we have had recently helped us out when it came to endurance."

TWO TO GO IN SHIELD DRAW The Sussex Intermediate Shield looks like falling behind schedule with two first round ties still to be resolved.

The second round, or quarter-finals, are due to be played on January 6.

As things stand, the only ties definitely sorted out for that date are UC Chichester v Hastings & Bexhill and Uckfield versus Hellingly.

Newick were this week given a free passage when Ditchling withdrew and will now be at home to Burgess Hill or Pulborough.

Plumpton have been drawn at home to Wingspan or Shoreham.

It has been a stuttering start for this well-intentioned competition, with only three of the eight scheduled first round matches actually taking place.

Organiser Bob Dray is keen to keep the event as close to schedule as possible given that the two finalists progress to the Sussex Senior Trophy, which kicks-off on February 4.

BOGNOR AT THE DOUBLE Bognor have fixed up two London Four South league clashes for the immediate post-Christmas period.

They go to Heathfield next Saturday and visit Beccehamians on January 6 anxious to relaunch a promotion bid which has suffered two successive defeats in the past fortnight.

Also next Saturday, Crawley are set to face one of the frontrunners in London Three South East when Sidcup are the visitors.

The league programme for January 6 currently looks like this.

London Two South: Haywards Heath v Wimbledon.

London Three South East: Askeans v Brighton, Worthing v Crawley London Four South East: Beccehamians v Bognor, Chichester v Park House.

Sussex One: Hellingly v Hastings & Bexhill.