Despite a top of the table win the previous week, Steyning were well aware that this local derby was never going to be easy. Constant rain in the previous 24 hours created testing conditions for both teams…

From the kick off, Shoreham showed their intent with some hard carries through their forwards before going wide and breaking into Steyning’s half, an ensuing penalty led to Shoreham securing a line-out just 5m from Steyning's line, despite some heroic tackling, quick hands from Shoreham put their winger in for the first score after 2 minutes (conversion missed). Steyning woke up and responded… An organised defensive effort kept Shoreham pinned in their half forcing a clearance which Andrew Whatley returned with extras, before Stuart Cotter being put into space to charge down his wing - Lomu’esque in brushing off 3 tackles - for a try after 7 minutes. Andrew Whatley adding the conversion to lead 7-5. Steyning found their rhythm and started to dominate most areas of the game. Good possession and strong carries eventually led to space on the blindside, quick hands from Jon Hamley put Stuart Cotter free again, who once again shrugged off any would-be tackler with ease to touch down for his second on 22 minutes (Whatley con, 14-5). Shoreham responded and ill discipline from Steyning allowed Shoreham 3 more points, 14-8. But Steyning instantly responded, clearly someone had told Benjamin Midgley that there was food behind the Shoreham try line! thankfully from a short distance we remembered the ball and charged over for Steyning’s 3rd. Andrew Whatley conversion followed for a 21-8 half time lead.

Steyning started the half on the front foot, but the conditions were beginning to take their toll on both sides and tensions rose in what was becoming a very muddy, attritional battle. Dale Fish joined a game of ‘Patter Cake’, the referee deemed that he wasn't playing nicely with the other children and sent him to the touchline for 10 minutes and a well earned cigarette! Steyning down to 14, but no change to the momentum. An incredible effort from the rearranged forwards kept moving the ball through phase after phase and eventually allowed Jean-Paul Badenhorst to ‘pick & go’ down the blindside going in for a well deserved score after 57 minutes (con missed, 26-8). It was Shoreham who showed poor discipline and after killing Steyning ball one of their maturer players was show to the ‘Naughty Step’ some would say its been 20+ years in the coming! At this point it became hard to tell who was who, but back to a full compliment, Steyning continued the pressure. The backline made a number of breaks of their own before Andrew Whatley cut a line to power over on 67 for a 31-8 (con missed). Both sides were puffing, but to their credit, Shoreham rallied in the last 10 minutes to take advantage of a tiring Steyning defence with a couple of well worked tries to finish on a high. Steyning deserved the win in what was a hard fought but incredibly good natured fixture.

Special mentions for a few - hard to single anyone out given the full on effort by everyone - of the match day squad, Andrew Whatley a hard fought MOTM, Dave Wadey for a fabulous first start, Callum Thomson for a terrier like performance around the pack and The Referee for orchestrating a great game between two old foes in those conditions…