Haywards Heath retain West Sussex champions for a third year.

Haywards Heath under 12s made it a hatrick of wins by retaining the title of West Sussex cup champions for the third year running.

Ten teams competed in two leagues of 5 with the winners of each league playing each other in a final to be crowned champions.

Heaths head coach Steve Davies thought the order of the day was for fast flowing attacking rugby setting a tempo that would leave the opposition in their wake and the boys did not disappoint by winning all their games scoring 14 tries and not conceding any.

Heaths opening match was against a strong Horsham side and in a close fought match saw the only try of the game scored by Heaths Rory Adams. Next was Bognor who were dispatched with relative ease by 3 tries to 0. Takhy Marrero grabbing a brace and Alex Slater one.

Heath continued their winning ways beating Midhurst 4 tries to 0 with Luc Bowkley and Rafe Liebers one each and Hugo Cordeschi x2.

The last match was against Crawley with Heath really gaining their stride and winning 6 tries to 0 With Evan Herbert, Dylan Thomas Oliver Hanley and Alex Slater scoring 1 each and Rafe Liebers x 2.

Having topped their league Heath were now in the final where they met the other league winners Chichester. In a hard brutal final Heaths professionalism, passion, commitment, fitness and ball skills saw them beat a very strong Chichester side, 1 try to 0. Heaths Hugo Cordeschi scoring just before half time from 15 meters, in an evading sprint from a maul. The second half saw Chichester rally but heath were too strong in all aspects of play to allow Captain Dylan Thomas to lift the cup as West Sussex County champions.

The Squad pictured was. Hugo Cordeschi, Baz Pratt. Thomas Davies, Harrison Hampshire, Oliver Hanley, Evan Herbert, Charlie Leyton, Rafe Liebers, Jammie Marmion, Euan Mclaren, Takhy Marrero. William Scotland, Alex Slater, Luc Bowkley and Dylan Thomas.

(Steve Davies)