Truscott treble gives Pulborough a winning start but Holbrook suffer narrow defeat

Skipper Richard Nicholls praised an excellent team performance as Boro made a winning return to the Sussex leagues following their relegation last year.

A hat-trick from outside centre Will Truscott and further tries from Nicholls, man of the match Hamish Godman-Dorington and Frazer Oliphant secured an excellent opening day result. Oliphant rounded off an impressive performance at full-back with five successful conversions.

“It was an excellent first game,” Nicholls beamed. “But in truth it’s fair to say the scoreline didn’t totally reflect the game, they’ll feel a little hard done by because it was much tighter then the result suggests.”

Home side Boro had withstand heavy pressure for a 20 minute spell in the first-half but were dogged in defence to lead 14-0 at the break, and took their chances thereafter.

Boro are much-changed this year and Seth Wise also impressed on his debut.

Holbrook 15 Chichester 17

Holbrook started the new league season with a narrow defeat at the hands of Chichester.

The home side started brightly and skipper Paul Davey crashed over from close range for an unconverted try.

Eventually Chichester levelled the scores when an overlap out wide allowed them to score in the corner.

The visitors earned themselves two further tries; one conversion giving them a healthy half-time lead.

Holbrook got back into the game when great interplay between Ash Sporne and Richard Smith resulted in Sporne crossing over for another unconverted try.

A Chichester line out was stolen and Nick Holt scored.

With moments left in the game, the visitors conceded a penalty. Holbrook elected to kick for goal, but Sporne hit it wide.