It was fantastic to be back at the club and playing in front of our supporters as Burgess Hill U13s welcomed Horsham for the final league fixture of the season. Horsham arrived with a full squad of 18 players, while Burgess Hill were determined to finish their campaign on a high after some promising recent performances, including home wins against Lewes and Steyning.

Burgess Hill made the perfect start, striking early with an excellent finish in the corner from Oliver, who showed great footwork in darting over. The try also reflected the strong team ethic on display from the boys in black, who were communicating well and putting in a huge collective effort across the pitch.

However, on a heavy surface, a brief lapse in concentration allowed Horsham to take advantage and score two quick tries. To their credit, Burgess Hill quickly regrouped. The team began to move the ball confidently through the hands, stringing together phases and showing great support play. Their pressure soon paid off as Rufus powered over for a try, before Brooke added another to regain momentum and put Burgess Hill back in front.

The second half saw Burgess Hill playing up the slope against a determined Horsham side. While the boys worked hard to limit their opponents’ attacking opportunities, sustained pressure near the try line eventually saw Horsham cross again.

If anything, the score only seemed to galvanise Burgess Hill. The response was superb, with the team producing some of their best rugby of the season. Moving the ball quickly through the hands and attacking with skill and vigour, they sliced through the Horsham defence for two outstanding tries, scored by Dennis and Chester.

Horsham refused to give up and came back strongly once more, eventually scoring another try after a long period of pressure. With the match becoming increasingly tiring for both sides, Burgess Hill showed real determination and resilience to hold firm in the closing stages.

In the end, the boys wrapped up a well-earned victory in fine style — a fitting way to finish their league season and a performance that showed the progress the team has made. Most pleasing of all was that it was a true team effort, with every player contributing, clearly enjoying the occasion and doing the club proud, while positive results across the other age groups and first team, made it a brilliant weekend for BHRFC.