Two touchdowns from Andy Cochrane proved just enough to hand the Sussex Thunder their first loss of 2004 in a divisional game between two evenly matched opponents. The game could have gone either way, however six Thunder turnovers and another fine display from the Chiltern defense gave the Cheetahs their 4^th win from 4 games and allowed them to leapfrog the Thunder and move to the top of the BSL Division II South-Eastern Conference.

Chiltern led 7-0 at halftime, with Cochrane collecting his first score score from 7 yards out midway through the 2^nd quarter, after Sussex’s 2^nd lost fumble of the day had handed the Cheetahs great field position. Sussex started slowly on offense for the 2^nd game in succession, going 3-and-out twice in the first 3 possessions. Whenever a promising drive did build, it was killed with a turnover. Stellar work from the Thunder defensive unit kept the scoreline close and the Thunder were perhaps fortunate to only be behind by 7 at halftime.

The 2^nd half began with another Thunder punt but momentum was to shift on the next possession. On 3^rd down, Rob Ingram intercepted Rob Suttling and returned the ball deep into Cheetah territory. Full advantage was taken when Will Graystone used the playaction fake to buy time and launched a pass into the endzone for Mike Ashby to score. Paul Robinson’s PAT brought the scores level and the game was back on. Chiltern were pinned deep by the ensuing kickoff and were forced to punt it away. As the game entered the 4^th quarter and with the Thunder looking for the go-ahead score, another turnover arrived at the wrong time when Graystone was intercepted by Andre Clarke. This time, the Cheetahs proved generous and turned the ball over themselves. Not to be outdone, Sussex’s fifth turnover duly handed possession back to the Cheetahs as the game looked to be heading for a tie.

However, Cochrane had other ideas and with just over 5 minutes remaining went over left guard and bulldozed his way through tacklers on his way to an amazing 40-yard score. Kes Longhurst blocked the extra point and the score stood at 13-7. J-P Flanagan returned the kickoff back to the Sussex 40 and the Thunder were to embark on their best drive of the day. The fleet feet of Andy Smythe – largely kept in check by the Cheetahs for the balance of the game – escaped to gain two precious first downs. The power running of Glen Boyle picked up two more, and with 1 minute 30 to play, Sussex faced 2^nd and 6 at the Chiltern 13. Smythe once again escaped off right tackle and for all the world appeared about to score, only for a great play from a Chiltern defender to strip him of the ball at the one yard line. The Cheetahs took over backed up on their own goaline line and two straight plunges for minimal gain and two Sussex timeouts meant that they faced 3^rd and 8 on their own 3 with a minute still to play. Sussex gambled one too many times and a gutsy call from Head Coach Len Scott gave Suttling the option to flip a pass out to Ady Stemp who broke free to give the Cheetahs the breathing room they needed to run out the clock.

After the game Sussex Head Coach Warren Smart said: "We take our hats off to Chiltern who came with a gameplan to shut us down and they executed it well. However, we repeatedly shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers and it is a testament to the defense that we were still in a position to win the game at the death."

The Thunder come home to face the Sabres of Southend at Brighton Rugby Club this coming Sunday June 13^th. The rematch against the Cheetahs in Brighton is on June 27^th, it promises to be another classic.