Horsham win cup once again

Horsham’s second XV, known as the Lions, beat Haywards Heath firsts 29-20 to win an exciting Bob Rogers Sussex Cup final played in glorious sunshine at Crawley Rugby Club.

The Green and Whites have now won the cup seven successive times stretching back to 2014. It is the most senior cup competition played for in Sussex and with Horsham’s first XV now at too high a level to play in the competition, the Lions picked up the baton. Horsham started strongly and Ben Murphy crashed through a couple of players to score from five yards.

Heath responded with a penalty before Horsham’s backs showed their class and Oli Joels put Joe Wilde away away to outpace the defence and score for a 10-3 lead. Heath levelled with a wellexecuted converted

try.

Breaks from Joels and Taylor Morris were stopped then Heath went up to the other end to kick a penalty and secure a 13-10 lead. Horsham’s greater depth became apparent in the second half. George

Howard scored on 51 minutes from a catch and drive which was well converted by Jake Fisher, then despite only having 13 players on the pitch, winger Eddie Grogan scored for Horsham to lead 22-13.

Heath scored another try to set up a grandstand finish. But scrum-half Fisher scored from a sniping run and then converted his own try to seal the victory.

Horsham’s head of rugby Nick Stocker said: “It’s always good to end the season with silverware which was earned in a good tight match, played out in fine conditions between two committed sides.”