The Heath U16 'A' team, better known as the 'Hurricanes' were in action on Sunday in what was their first league game of the season. The conditions were difficult throughout the match with a cold wind gusting to 45mph at times, driving rain and a very narrow muddy pitch testing the skills and tactics of both sides.

Despite playing into the strong wind in the first half, the Hurricanes enjoyed the majority of possession and territory in the early stages of the contest. But a well organised and resolute defensive effort from a spirited Lewes side kept the Hurricanes at bay until fly half Tryfan Lewis darted though a gap to go over for the first try of the afternoon, which Sam Denslow converted from wide on the right.

After a further period of sustained pressure on the Lewes try line, Archie Francis went over for a great score from close range having cut a great line to take a short pass from George Wiscombe at the base of a ruck. Lewes then managed to pull a try back during a rare entry into the Heath half following some sloppy handling by the visitors which the Lewes outside centre pounced on to reduce the deficit to 5-12.

The Hurricances quickly responded to restore the two try cushion when Sam Denslow made an initial line break in midfield, before chipping and chasing over the covering defenders and winning the race to the touch down. He converted his own try to extend the score to 5-19 at half time.

After the break, the Hurricanes enjoyed the luxury of playing with the wind behind them. Arlo Merchant took over at fly half and at times used the wind well to kick long and thwart any developing Lewes attacks. But it was Lewes who started the second half the better, going over for an early try on the wing having also had a similar effort disallowed when their outside centre dropped the ball in the act of scoring.

With the lead now cut to 10-19, the Hurricanes need to raise their level again. They did this when industrious scrum half George Wiscombe was able to snipe through a gap in the Lewes defences to score a much deserved try which Sam Denslow converted for a 10-26 scoreline.

Now in full control of the match and with the Lewes team tiring, the Hurricanes rounded off a excellent performance with two more tries, firstly from hard-working flanker Jake Bates, and then from Josh-Henley Gower, who rounded off a man of the match performance by powering over from close range after further pressure on the Lewes try line. Sam Denslow converted both tries to complete a good day off the kicking tee.

The final score of 40-10 was very well deserved and reflected the effort the whole Heath Hurricanes U16 squad put into a strong performance in tricky conditions.

Squad: Finley Baffoe Garley, Theo Polhill, Josh Henley Gower (C), Archie Francis, Monty Oliver, Jake Bates, Leon Zeelie, Mylo Smith , George Wiscombe, Tryfan Lewis, Quincy Selelo, Christian Benstead-Schlup, Sam Denslow, Oscar Clark, Liam Buckfield, James Whalley , Will Bates, Richard Wetton, Arlo Merchant, Rory March