A new chapter was written in the 68-year history of Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club on Saturday, as the club’s women took to the field for their first-ever competitive league fixture. In front of a large and enthusiastic home crowd at Whitemans Green, the Heath Hellhounds launched their National Championship 3 South East campaign against Crowborough in emphatic fashion, running out 81–10 winners.

Fifteen months in the making, the journey to this moment had finally reached its destination. And the Hellhounds wasted no time in announcing their arrival.

Captain Nicky Carey set the tone from the outset, powering through the heart of the Crowborough pack with a typically barnstorming run to score Heath’s historic first league try. Fly-half Lizzie Bourne added the conversion to give the hosts a 7–0 lead.

Fellow back-rower Wensley Paradzai was next to cross, her powerful and dynamic running in the loose proving a constant threat to the Crowborough defence she linked expertly all game with her sister prop Martha Nyamutba. Heath were now beginning to hit their stride, and Carey soon grabbed her second try, with Bourne again converting to extend the advantage to 19–0.

The backs then produced a moment of real quality. A well-rehearsed move released outside-centre Macy Lawes, who hit a hard line off Bourne’s pass, sliced through the defensive line and outpaced the full-back to finish superbly. Another successful conversion from Bourne made it 26–0.

To their credit, Crowborough refused to fold and crossed for a try of their own. But any hopes of halting Heath’s momentum were quickly extinguished. Carey powered over for two more tries in quick succession, taking the score to 36–5 and completing a remarkable first-half haul of five tries for the captain. Crowborough added a second before the interval, but the Hellhounds had delivered an extraordinary opening 40 minutes of league rugby.

The significance of the occasion was evident in the way Heath played. The confidence, cohesion and commitment on display reflected just how far the team had come over the previous 15 months. This was not simply a historic debut; it was a performance full of ambition and attacking intent.

The coaching team made changes at half-time, with Scarlett McDonald joining the action in the front row and Emma Peck coming on at wing. A reshuffled pack also saw Lawes move to openside flanker, while Paradzai switched into the centres.

The changes did little to disrupt Heath’s momentum. Paradzai soon burst through for her second try after another electric line break, with Bourne adding the extras to make it 48–10.

At half-time, the instruction had been clear: use the width of the pitch and bring the backs into the game. Liv Hibbert duly obliged. Having started the match at full-back, she finished it at outside-centre, tormenting the Crowborough defence with her footwork, pace and acceleration. Two excellent tries in quick succession took her personal tally to three, as Heath continued to stretch their opponents across the field.

With the score at 58–10, Crowborough continued to battle, putting in some determined defensive work around the breakdown. But Heath’s pressure eventually told, as front-rower Rosie Burke, playing only her second game of rugby, crashed over from close range to claim her first-ever try. Bourne maintained her outstanding afternoon with another successful conversion.

The fly-half then produced a moment of individual brilliance. Spotting space out wide, she delivered a superb cross-field kick that turned the Crowborough defence. Hibbert timed her run perfectly, gathered the ball in stride and outpaced the covering defenders to touch down in the left-hand corner. Bourne converted once more to take Heath to 74–10.

There was still time for one final flourish. Hibbert crossed again down the left to complete a superb four-try performance, and Bourne’s conversion brought up the final score of 81–10.

For Carey, five tries on the club’s historic league debut marked a captain’s performance to remember. For Hibbert, four tries showcased the pace and attacking threat that made her such a handful throughout the second half. Bourne’s assured kicking, Paradzai’s powerful carrying and the contributions of the entire squad underlined the collective effort behind the victory.

Most importantly, the Hellhounds showed that the 15-month journey to competitive league rugby has produced a team capable of playing direct with confidence, purpose and real attacking ambition.

The focus now turns to the next fixture, when Eastbourne visit Whitemans Green in a fortnight’s time. If this remarkable debut is any indication of what lies ahead, Haywards Heath’s newest team will be well worth watching.

1st Team Match Squad : Martha Nyamutba, ⁠Philippa Whiles, ⁠Soph Tarbuck, ⁠Charlie Ferguson, ⁠Grace Pimlott, ⁠Wensley Paradazi, ⁠Nicky Carey ( captain), ⁠Izzy Altendorf, ⁠Becky Webb, ⁠Lizzie Bourne, ⁠Mairead Gallagher, ⁠Lils Anderson, ⁠Macy Lawes, ⁠Sarah Sharman, ⁠Liv Hibbert, ⁠Scarlett McDonald, ⁠Rosie Burke, ⁠Emma Peck, ⁠Carina Turney