Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club have been awarded five points after successfully appealing their controversial defeat at Haywards Heath.

The Lions lost 22-19 on January 6 but felt the home team had broken league rules after playing on with 15 men despite losing two front-row forwards to injury during the first half.

Uncontested scrums were ordered for the last five minutes of the first half and the whole of the second half and Haywards Heath managed to hold on for the win.

Deal & Betteshanger appealed to London 2 South East and league secretary Martin Doyle last week ruled in their favour. Haywards Heath will be docked five points and the result recorded as 0-0.

Mr Doyle said: “Haywards Heath were not entitled to replace the injured player and should have completed the match with 14 players.

“The referee mistakenly allowed the player to take the field of play but that does not absolve Haywards Heath from their obligation and responsibility to comply with competition regulations. The player was not authorised to enter the field of play.

“Haywards Heath had the unfair advantage of a player who was not entitled to be on the pitch for at least the second half of the match.

“It is my decision that in order to redress the unfair advantage enjoyed by Haywards Heath, the match shall be awarded as a win to Deal & Betteshanger.”

Coach Gregor Dougall said: “It’s great to have five points but the thing all of us feel is that we’ve been vindicated.

“On the day, we were constantly told we were wrong. Haywards Heath can appeal but we haven’t heard anything yet.”

He added: “I would far rather have won the game by playing rugby as opposed to going to a league secretary to get five points.”

The league table will not be adjusted until any appeal process has expired.

Deal & Betteshanger are ninth in London 2 South East with 31 points while Haywards Heath are fifth with 46 points.