Karl Flynn has hailed double-winners Bognor as the best club in Sussex.

Not the best team. That honour will be decided when the big two Haywards Heath and Worthing go head to head in the new Sussex Challenge Cup next month.

Flynn, though, reckons results, numbers at training, back-up from the second team and support off the field all help make Bognor a formidable all-round set-up.

No one who saw them pummel Eastbourne in awful conditions in the Sussex Trophy final at Waterhall would have much argument with the mud-caked No. 8 and player-coach on that score.

Certainly not the hordes who cheered as George Castleton became the first Bognor captain to ever hold the Trophy aloft.

The London Four South East champions recovered from the shock of conceding an early try with the strong wind at their backs to win 36-17.

A rock-solid scrummage, spot-on gameplan and the tactical know-how of fly half Rob Parry helped them make light of awful conditions. As well as the strong north-south wind, constant heavy rain and a saturated pitch offered a stage inappropriate for a major final.

Parry's kicking game repeatedly put Bognor in positions to strike with the wind behind them in the first half. When the ball got beyond the No. 10, it was invariably only for centres Castleton and Stuart Pearce to take back inside, crossing the gain line and returning play to Bognor's area of strength in the forwards.

Paul Mitchell and Roy Sargeant both scored tries as a result of getting up in support of such moves.

Lee Balchin's try helped Bognor open a 24-5 interval lead and Billy Toone was sent slithering over by Flynn late on.

They even scored from a lineout, which was some going in that weather.

Steve Dove's clean take led to a rolling maul which Eastbourne stopped illegally and Parry converted the resulting penalty try to put Bognor 7-5 up as they recovered from the shock of an early Ali Coombe score for Eastbourne.

Once ahead, the West Sussex club never looked back.

Flynn admitted Bognor wanted to play against the wind in the first half.

He said: "We lost the toss but we got a good lead and that's all you can ask for. I thought we played the conditions fantastically well.

"We've had good support all season. Every league game we always get a good crowd. Like I always say, we are the best club in Sussex. It's a people's club. A lot of hard work has gone in.

"Joe Greenslade as my assistant coach has been fantastic all season and he's still playing at 40 or so. Our fitness this season has gone to a different level and I think it told in the end."

Flynn admitted it was something of a shock to see Eastbourne produce some lovely handling to send Coombe in early on. That try was perhaps a sign that Eastbourne would have preferred dry conditions.

The Bognor coach said: "Perhaps it was the wake-up call we needed and perhaps it was a bad thing for them in the end."

Eastbourne made an even better start to the second period with James Coulthard scoring at the posts. Coach Rick Walshaw admitted they might have got back into it at that point.

He said: "I thought we could do it then. It was on the cards we could come through and win. But they kept the same gameplan against the wind, kept it tight and we couldn't cope with them when they got to our 22."

Joe Tobin scored Eastbourne's final try late on.

These two teams will not meet in league action next season, despite Bognor's promotion. They are heading across London Division to Three South West.

That might just give their Sussex Trophy ties even more edge. So might the fact they are now holders of the trophy. It's a responsibility they will relish.

Bognor scorers: Penalty try (15), Mitchell 1T (28), Balchin 1T (34), Sargeant 1T (48), Toone 1T (74), Parry 4C 1PG (24).

Eastbourne scorers: Coombe 1T (6), Coulthard 1T (42), Tobin 1T (79), Ring 1C.

Sequence (Bognor first): 0-5, 7-5, 10-5, 17-5, 24-5 (ht), 24-12, 31-12, 36-12, 36-17.