Sussex rugby results: Haywards Heath v Crawley, Chichester v Guildford

Haywards Heath secured a comfortable bonus point win to set up a league-deciding final match heading into the last week of the season.

A brace from Matt Cains and tries from across the back line helped Heath recover from a slow start to press on to a 41-20 win against Crawley.

The result sets up a winner-takes-all decider next week with a trip to second place Shoreham.

Heath started slow and after immediately finding themselves on the back foot ended up two scores down in the early minutes with captain Wilf Bridges in the sin bin.

However, the hosts gained momentum as winger Cains scored out wide and after the return of the skipper Bridges crashed through a gap to take the ball within inches of the try line – front rower Elliot Higgins finishing off the score.

A bonus point was quickly secured before the half time break with two further tries within minutes of each other. Centre Jack Lucas made an electric break to touch down under the posts before Cains added his second of the day, strolling in after a looping pass from fly half Christian Streater.  

Despite easing off after the interval and allowing another Crawley score, a scrum deep in enemy territory saw Bridges break from the base and offload to supporting scrum half Jamie Thurston to nip under the posts.

Heath added two further score through full back Tom Wharton and centre Gabe Moore to bookmark a strong display that ended 41-20 after Crawley secured their own bonus point score.

Chichester 17 Guildford 24

Chichester vs Guildford (Image: Michael Clayden)

A slew of yellow cards kept Chichester on the back foot as they settled for a losing bonus point in a 24-17 defeat to Guildford.

The Blues final away game of the season saw three players sent to the sin bin giving Guildford’s forwards comfortable control of the game to score two tries from driving mauls.

Two second half scores salvaged a bonus point from the trip as Chichester will look to end their season on a high note in a fortnight’s time.

Chichester frustrated their hosts for the first 20 minutes of the match but were put at a disadvantage after their first sin bin of the game. Guildford kicked a penalty for the corner and were soon over the whitewash from the ensuing lineout.

Chichester dug deep secured a lineout deep in enemy territory after a promising drive. The backs helped maul the ball over from close range for a Josh Cameron score.

Chichester’s momentum was short lived after another yellow card saw them back with 14 men and Guildford once again drove a short rolling maul over for their second score.

The Blues saw their fortunes change in the second half but after promising attacks Guildford added to their scores to extend the lead to 24-5 with eight minutes to play and another Chichester player in the sin bin.

However, Chichester secured a late bonus point with two quick tries. Rhys Thompson scampered over the try line from 25 metres out to touch down and added his second minutes later from a quick tap penalty for the final points of the game.