In a first for the Vets, they took part in a 3 team format played under floodlights at Crawley. The other opponents were Reigate and each match was only 20 minutes in length.
Result: Crawley 7 – Hove Vets 5
Maybe the 5 week gap between matches was a factor, but they started slowly and allowed Reigate to score first. After some good work from the forwards, the ball was moved wide and Nick Cochrane finished off with a try in the corner. Alex Stephenson’s attempted conversion was close but was just wide. Crawley had a chance to add to their total but were thwarted just short of the line by a crunching tackle from Iain Casey.

Result: Reigate 0 – Hove Vets 14
In the 2nd match, the Vets played with more urgency and control. No 8 Jimmy Cockle, broke down the blind side which led to a try, after a great kick chase by Ollie Gospel , converted by Alex. Despite some indifferent kicking from hand, the backs started to find some fluency and fly half David Francis found Rob Kiernan on his inside shoulder and he ran unopposed to the posts.

The format may have been new, but the welcome from Crawley and the spirit in which the game was played by all teams, was very old school.