Three touchdowns and another 100-yard plus performance from Andy Smythe, taking his season tally to nineteen, lifted the Sussex Thunder over the Essex Spartans and to a record of 7-2 on the season. With one game to play, Sussex are now guaranteed second place in the BSL Division 2 South-Eastern Conference thus securing a spot in the playoffs. Sussex raced into a 21-0 lead and never looked back, and although the game tightened in the second half as the weather deteriorated, the result was never in any serious doubt.

The larger than usual crowd in attendance at Brighton Rugby Club were treated to a bumper opening that saw Sussex score on each of their opening two drives. After a short punt ended Essex’s first possession, Will Graystone set the tone on the Thunder’s first play from scrimmage when he found TE Paul Robinson for a 24-yard completion that moved the ball to the Spartans’ 2. From there Andy Smythe dived in for the TD on the very next play, which Robinson duly converted for an early 7-0 lead. The Spartans could find no momentum on offense and once again Sussex would start with excellent field position following Guy Robbins’ tackle on the Essex punter. It was déjà vu on the next series as Sussex once more only required 2 plays to add to the lead. Graystone hit Mike Ashby for 22-yard completion to the Essex 1-yard line, and Smythe mopped up to score again from close range. The PAT gave Sussex a 14-0 lead after barely 5 minutes of play.

Sussex continued to move the ball and added to the lead in the second quarter when Chris Jones made a great adjustment to come down with a Graystone bomb at the 1-yard line and force his way into the endzone for his first senior score. The 28-yard TD hookup and Robinson’s 3^rd PAT extended the lead to 21-0 at the half.

The third quarter was largely uneventful as the rain began to fall heavier and Sussex’s air attack – which had been prolific in the first half (Graystone 6 of 7 passing, 119 yards and a TD, Robinson 5 catches for 69 yards) – found the going much tougher in the second half. After a Spartans drive was snuffed out inside the Sussex 5 to end the 3^rd quarter, Sussex embarked on an 85-yard drive which eventually came up fruitless after a great play by an Essex DB to break up an attempted fake FG. It was the Spartans who broke the second half stalemate when their best drive of the day was capped off by Dillon’s 2-yard TD run and Garth Evans’ PAT made it 21-7. However, any hope of a late comeback was dashed when Glen Boyle covered a chipped onside kick attempt. It was left to Smythe to have the last word as he took a pitch around left end and – aided by some superb downfield blocking – and cut back to race home for a 46-yard TD scamper, albeit with a heart-stopping fumble on the 5-yard line and endzone recovery just to keep everyone awake! A low snap meant no conversion this time, and 27-7 was how it finished.

Sunday’s game saw the welcome return of some familiar faces to Thunder uniform. Defensive back Dale Smart and TE Fraser Robertson (returning from "reconstructive collar bone surgery") saw their first action of the 2004 season, and centre Matt Malcher - thrown in to start after only one practice – came through with flying colours.

Sussex Head Coach Warren Smart commented after: "To reach the playoffs in only our second season is a great achievement, but we are not just content with being there. We want to advance and be there playing not watching in Sheffield in September. I would also like to extend our sincerest thanks to Coach Arturo Villela-Vega who is returning to Mexico this week. The impact he has had on our defense and on the team as a whole this season cannot be measured."

Sussex’s final regular season game of 2004 is in Southend against the Sabres on August 8^th. The quarter-final round of the playoffs, likely a visit to the Redditch Arrows, will be the following Sunday 15^th August. Details will be confirmed closer to the time.