GET set for a momentous title shoot out after Brighton lost their perfect record amid high drama at Waterhall.

Cranbrook outside half Dale Spencer stroked over a 30-yard penalty with the last kick of the game as Cranbrook grabbed a 22-22 draw from Saturday's thriller in London Three South East.

Now the battle for top spot could hinge on events at Roundstone Lane a week on Saturday, when Ian Watkins' leaders visit old rivals Worthing.

Brighton should have won on Saturday after leading

12-0, 19-7 and 22-14, but coach Watkins said a draw was a fair result.

He added: "It was an excellent game. This league needs more matches like that.

"There was plenty of blood and thunder up front and some superb handling, movement and support play.

"The players were bitterly disappointed at the end but the result just shows we can't rest on our laurels."

Well-worked scores from Justin Burt and the influential Conrad Burke sent Brighton 12 points clear at the break, and it would have been game over but for a superb last ditch tackle by Donovan Spencer on the flying Micky Poole right on half-time.

Cranbrook responded with a spell of pressure which saw them make room for Dave O'Brien to strike in the corner, but the hosts replied with a scintillating handling move for Poole to send Geraint Jones to the posts.

Jones converted and Burke sent over a penalty, but tries from Paddy Donegan and Ben Tardiff kept the spirited Kent men in touch.

The hosts played the more expansive rugby and were happy to move the ball wide from deep in their own 22, even in those last nerve-jangling minutes.

But they missed three kickable penalties while Spencer sent over two conversions from near the touchline for Cranbrook.

The result was great news for Worthing. It means that, if they beat Brighton a week on Saturday, they will have dropped fewer points than any of their rivals.

New flanker Aaron DeBor is in contention for the big four-pointer after scoring a debut try in Saturday's 39-8 win at battling Medway.

Tony Cruz, Terry Butler and Mike Imrie scored first half tries and wing Martin Eze added a late double. Andy Ashwin kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Crawley will also have a big say in the title race after enjoying an eighth successive win, beating Folkestone 29-0 at muddy Willoughby Fields.

They have piled up 48 tries in those games and face both Cranbrook and Worthing next month.

It took 35 minutes for them to get going but they eventually eased home with tries from Richard Billings (2), new boy Kelvin Cartwright and Mike Worrall. Steve O'Reilly landed three conversions and a penalty

Eastbourne were handed a big lesson in discipline as they went down 11-10 at home to Chichester.

Dissent by outside half Jamie Bremer cost them ten yards at a penalty in the last minute and Nick Stanton duly put over his second kick of the day to win the match.

Although the hosts were unhappy, they hadn't complained in the 27th minute when winger Jon Lord was credited with a try after seeming to lose the ball before grounding it.

Skipper Spencer Pullinger also barged his way over as the hosts went 10-0 up.

But Chi's pack improved after the break and they forced Frank Corby over for a crucial try.

East Grinstead slipped further back into the pack after a disappointing 24-23 defeat at Dartfordians.

They led 20-10 but a series of missed kicks cost them dear.

Richard Darch, Jim Trantham and Marcus Ayres scored tries and Justin Looney added a penalty. Ricky Lake then took over kicking duties and managed a conversion and a penalty.

Horsham put up a spirited effort in their 29-5 home defeat by Tunbridge Wells. Scrum-half Dougie Wright got their try.

Nick Roussel scored to give Hove temporary hope as they went down 27-10 at home to Sidcup. Phil Ward put over a penalty and a conversion.

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