ABSENT coach Matt Chammings had a good feeling ahead of the Colts’ trip to Sussex League leaders Heathfield and Waldron and his optimism proved grounded.

With Chris Monk and Barry Goude leading the side the Academy Colts produced a superb 31-12 win in the UK on Sunday.

Ben Honour laid the foundations with a good early try and the visitors led 17-0 at the break.

Heathfield and Waldron came back in the second half to reduce the deficit but there was never any danger that the match would be lost after that convincing first period.

‘Defence was key,’ said Goude.

‘Jack Taylor played a really strong game in defence and Charlie Scott also had a barnstorming game in the back row.

‘To a man they were superb,’ added Goude.

Honour finished the game with two tries to his name while the other three came courtesy of James Monk, Pierre de Garis and Giles Quigley, who had a great game as hooker, driving forward at every opportunity.

Cameron Hantonne nailed three conversions and Tom Veillard was superb in standing in at scrum half.

On Saturday, the 2nds ran in eight tries in a fine 44-21 win against St Jacques.

The friendly was encouraging not least for the fact that Fijian Simi Sawene got a full 80 minutes in as he continues his recovery from injury.

‘His ball handling is exceptional for a big man,’ said Stone.

‘Everytime he had the ball he attracted three or four defenders and he would cleverly pop it off.’

Ned Brown, another newcomer, was a real handful too, regularly punching holes in the St Jacques defence.

Andy Bailey, who cleverly opted to follow him wherever he went in attack, benefitted with four tries.

Sawene, Cally Murdoch, Carl Johnson and Fergus Moriarty also went over the line and Leon Gardner landed two conversions.

Now for the big one, next Saturday’s JRA league clash with Beeches, kick off 11.30 on the club pitch.

The U8s and U10s played at the Farnborough Festival and both came back with trophies. U14s travelled to Bognor for their Sussex league match and lost 54-12. Full reports to follow.