Littlehampton go back to the top

Littlehampton started well and took the lead from an early Dean Torode penalty, and dominated possession thereafter.

The first try came after a turnover on the lineout. Littlehampton passed along the line, driving forward with quick hands and dummy passes and Bryan Newman went over.

They moved further ahead after a quickly-taken penalty was moved out wide for Craig Walters to score.

Pulborough then had a few attacks and Littlehampton had to defend patiently. They then formed a couple of advances themselves but lost possession through penalties and scrums.

They were, however, to have the last word of the half, as they claimed the ball back from a lineout and Paul Edmunds crashed over the line.

Dean Torode put over his first conversion of the afternoon to give Littlehampton a 20-0 lead at the break.

In the second half, a Craig Walters catch saw him make ground with the ball before being taken out by a tackle, but Torode missed the resulting penalty.

Littlehampton were made to work hard in the next phase of the game as Pulborough advanced near the try line, and the ball then moved from end to end with penalties, scrums and lineouts.

Pulborough then worked themselves up to Littlehampton’s line and won a couple of penalties before driving over the line with a try, which they converted.

Quick hands and superb offloading then saw Littlehampton hit back with a try through Ian Ritchie who went over, and Torode converted for the final points of the afternoon.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Simmons, Cullen, Edmunds, Merridue, Boddington Newman, Keirle, Lovegrove, Elliot, Torode, Matthews, Best, Wood, Ritchie, Walters. Subs: Singleton (Elliot), Morley.