The second NC3 League fixture of the season saw Eastbourne RFC Women travel to Whitemans Green for a pulsating game, with the lead changing hands several times over the course of the afternoon.

Eastbourne were first out of the blocks, with a sweeping move taking them down the right-hand side to score in the corner.

Heath responded quickly through livewire back-rower Wensley, whose typical burst from the 22 saw the scores levelled. Lizzie Bourne added the conversion to make it 7-5.

Heath had the momentum now, and captain Nicky Carey went over for another converted try following some strong driving runs from the Heath pack, extending the lead to 14-5.

Heath continued their purple patch and it was now the turn of the backs to get involved. Good handling saw full-back Liv Hirbert cross in the corner as the home side moved 21-5 ahead.

Eastbourne rallied with a converted try before half-time to reduce the deficit to 21-12.

Coming down the hill in the second half, Eastbourne wrestled control of the match back from Heath and their experience began to tell. Their scrum-half directed the backline well and they started to find gaps in the Heath defence, while the home side made changes to give their full squad of 22 valuable game time.

Two tries in quick succession moved Eastbourne ahead at 24-21 before Heath’s irrepressible back-rower Wensley struck again. Fly-half Lizzie Bourne converted to restore Heath’s advantage at 28-24.

That was to prove the high point for the home side as Eastbourne began to gain the ascendancy. They ran in a further three tries through their backline and, despite some valiant Heath defence, including a superb try-saving cover tackle from outside centre Amy Cooke, the visitors finished strongly to secure a 43-28 victory.

The Heath Hellhounds left the field with their heads held high and plenty of positives to take forward. Attention now turns to two fixtures on consecutive Sundays, with Uckfield at home followed by Hove 2s and a rematch of last season’s Sussex Plate Final.