Despite scoreline a strong performance from Barnes ...

Grinstead secured Barnes' kick-off and set off going forward; making yards after the first recycle they recycled 4 times then chipped over and regained. They then put together a series of 9 more recycles with an offload in between for lock Tredgett, R. to finish and touch down not far from the posts inside 2 minutes. Meakin converted. Rain started; again Grinstead secured the restart then tried a long high kick after 2 recycles. Barnes ran the ball back confidently into the other half to get a penalty. This was kicked for a line-out 15 metres out. Their forward drive broke up 7 metres out and after a few recycles backwards they got the first scrum put in 18 metres out. They got the ball away under pressure but soon after were turned over; kicks were exchanged and an error gave Barnes the second scrum just outside the opposition 22 and at this the got a free-kick which their pack ran. After a couple of recycles they chipped through the line and the opposition cleared to touch. Barnes took a quick line-out and kicked for territory; Grinstead kicked back high and Barnes ran the ball to get a penalty just inside their opponents' half. The kick took them to 18 metres out and this time they didn't go for a forward drive; a couple of errors lost them then got them the ball back. They kicked into the 22 and Grinstead returned this with interest into touch in the other half. Grinstead got their first put-in soon after the line-out and a penalty at that, which was kicked for a line-out 14 metres from their opponents' line. They recycled close 5 times, but not having advanced, to get a penalty in centre field after 14 minutes and Meakin took the points. The rain stopped.

After the restart a couple of errors saw the ball change hands; kicks were exchanged then Grinstead got a penalty near halfway. They kicked for a line-out just inside the 22 which was thrown not-straight. Barnes kicked to touch from their under-pressure scrum, still in their own half. From the line-out Grinstead kept the ball tight but not driving and advanced with 10 phases before fly-half Meakin passed to no. 8 Nelmes to score at the posts at the end of the first quarter. Meakin added. An error gave Grinstead a scrum back at halfway then a kick by Meakin hit an opposition man and Barnes got the ball. Kicks were exchanged resulting in a penalty for Grinstead. This was kicked for a line-out 30 metres out. From the line-out they released to centre and made good yards; a couple of tight recycles took them to the line where they were held up and got a 5 metres scrum. Keeping the ball tight they were forced into touch and Barnes' line-out was also 5 metres out. After keeping the ball tight Barnes tried an up-and-under; Grinstead dealt with this and ran before soon kicking to touch 16 metres inside the opposition half. Barnes tried wider ball from the line-out then had a kick charged down and this resulted in a penalty against them at their 22. Grinstead ran this, broke through easily and centre Faaatuatu scored at the posts after 26 minutes. Meakin again added.

Grinstead secured the restart, recycled twice then chipped over the line; Barnes dealt with this and chipped over the opposition line and got a penalty at halfway. A very good touch kick took them to a line-out 10 metres out; when their forward drive went down flanker Sharp broke off to touch down after the half-hour. The conversion was missed. Barnes dealt with the restart then kicked; Grinstead ran the ball back and after a couple of recycles got a put-in 12 metres into the opposition half. From their scrum they released wide then recycled tight 9 times before chipping over and too far for a 22 drop-out. Grinstead again ran the ball back and this resulted in a scrum for Barnes at halfway. Soon after Grinstead were penalised and Barnes kicked for a line-out at their opponents' 22. They kept ball tight but were prevented from advancing then got the last put-in of the half 26 metres out. From this they released to centre before soon being penalised for not releasing. The half-time whistle followed.

Barnes secured the second half restart; kicks were exchanged resulting in a Barnes' put-in 26 metres from their line. This was taken against the head and Grinstead kicked to touch 14 metres out. Barnes first kept the ball tight then kicked then forced a turnover; four kicks followed, the last to touch and overall to Barnes' advantage. From their line-out they tried wider ball then recycled 4 times without much advance before kicking. Grinstead ran the ball, passing forward that the Ref. didn't give, then kicked. Barnes passed forward and the Ref. spotted this. Grinstead chipped after their scrum and soon after Barnes were penalised 30 metres from their line. Grinstead kicked for a line-out 5 metres out and got to the line from that but were held up. Barnes wheeled the 5 metre scrum and got the ball and kicked high which got them another put-in still 15 metres inside their half. They kicked again from the scrum and this resulted in their line-out not far into the other half. They advanced from this to an opposition line-out just inside the 22. Grinstead kicked after that then Barnes ran the ball to get a penalty 5 metres into their opponents' half and kick to touch but not far. From their line-out they released to centre but then they were penalised at the second ruck. Grinstead's kick didn't find touch. Barnes ran the ball in their 22 but were forced into touch outside of their 22. Grinstead tried wide ball and they got the next put-in. Barnes lost a man for 10 minutes soon after but they were awarded a penalty and kicked to touch still in their own half. After their line-out they were turned over and Grinstead kicked well to the corner to a defensive line-out 5 metres out. From that Barnes broke out to their 22 then tried an up-and-under. Grinstead ran the ball back, recycled twice then got to the ball and advanced again then an offload to flanker Niessen got them their first score of the second half after 22 minutes. Meakin added.

Barnes forced a turnover soon after the restart then got the next put-in. They got a free-kick at the scrum and ran it. Their three-quarters took them forward to a penalty 14 metres out and this was kicked for a 5 metre line-out. They got over from that at 27 minutes with backrow Mortimer on the ball and fly-half Hupfield converted. A communication failure by Barnes allowed Grinstead to score immediately. Barnes let the restart ball bounce and the opposition got it and easily advanced to 5 metres out. They recycled 3 times for Tredgett to get his second try at the corner at the half-hour. The restart didn't go 10 metres; Grinstead advanced, recycling tight, from their scrum but the defence got the next one 30 metres out then kicked out on the full from that. Grinstead set to drive from the line-out and got a penalty 9 metres out and Barnes lost another man for the rest of the match, that being less than 10 minutes. Grinstead chose to have a 5 metre line-out then the defence held to get the next put-in and a penalty at that. Barnes tried an up-and-under that the opposition comfortably dealt with and sent ball wide. They recycled 5 times before the defence got the next scrum. From that 18 metres inside their own half, they chipped over and Grinstead ran the ball back at them to get a penalty 18 metres out. Their pack ran this and recycled 5 times before the ball was chipped over for fullback Betty to score at the posts. Meakin added before the whistle.

At Brighton on an immaculate artificial pitch under floodlights, starting a little after 5pm. Lots of rain during the afternoon and wind from the west across the pitch during the game changing the weather; dry at the start.