The signs were ominous for our visitors this afternoon when they were only able to muster 13 players; many thanks for still making the trip thought Burgess Hill. After lending them a few, 'Bridge set about putting into practice their plans for the coming season.

It didn't take long for the scoreboard to starting ticking over; new back-row Robert Mitchell going over for his first try in black & gold with barely a minute on the clock. The kick-off was chased hard by Lewis Bowen who forced a fumble from the Burgess Hill receiver. A quick carry and spreading the ball wide saw the 'Bridge Number 8 over the line and under the posts. A regulation conversion from in front of the posts from Lee Roberts opened the fly half's account for the season.

The next try wasn't far behind; the first scrum of the game happened just outside Edenbridge's 22 and was stolen against the head by Mike Whitehead. Good hands saw 'Bridge winger Nick Tingley put into space with the length of the pitch ahead of him. The desperate defence just about did its job and forced him to knock on with the Burgess Hill try line at his mercy. From the resulting scrum, the ball came loose following a strong secondary drive from the Edenbridge pack and blindside flanker Spike Smith was quickest to react, pouncing on the ball as it bobbled over the Burgess Hill line.

More tries were to come in the first half with a mixture of forward-strength allowing Adam Bright, Dominic Mitchell, Mike Whitehead and Robert Mitchell (for his second) to score from close quarters and Paul Cooper and Lewis Bowen to demonstrate some of the softer skills to find their way to the line.

The second half saw 'Bridge ring the changes, swopping their loan players with Burgess Hill and getting Academy player Ryan Helps on for his Senior debut. The now uncontested scrums nullified some of 'Bridge's advantage but it didn't see much of a let up in the scoring. As with the first half, straight from the kick-off, young Ryan Helps received the ball and set off on a strong run. Having made his way well into the Burgess Hill half, he fed Robert Mitchell who simply carried on the run to complete his hattrick for the afternoon.

Spike Smith was to add a further try for himself shortly before the game came to a sudden and sad end. Captain Mike Whitehead was on his way through a gap into the Burgess Hill 22 before his leg was fallen on awkwardly in a tackle. A shrill blast of the whistle and an ambulance summoned saw the two squads depart the field fifteen minutes early.

Best wishes to Captain Mike Whitehead; his presence on the pitch will be missed this season but no-doubt we'll see him propping up the bar in due course. Thanks go to Burgess Hill for making the trip and sticking at it in a game played in great spirit.

Edenbridge:
Scorers:
Tries: Mitchell R (3), Smith (2), Bright, Mitchell D, Whitehead, Bowen, Cooper
Cons: Roberts (8)
Pens:

MOTM: Robert Mitchell

Team:
15. Cooper; 14. Tingley (rep. White); 13. Tan 12. Lytham; 11. Tolnai; 10. Roberts; 9. Horner; 1. Mitchell D (rep. Battle); 2. Whitehead (capt.) (rep. Helps); 3. Mitchell C; 4. Ward; 5. Bright; 6. Smith; 7. Bowen; 8. Mitchell R