TOM Heeks believes Drifters did not have the rub of the green in a 23-20 defeat at home to Gosford All Blacks on Saturday.

Drifters are still searching for a first win in Southern Counties North this season after a run of eight straight defeats, but Heeks insists the performances are improving each week.

The Drifters coach told the Observer: “It was a very good game of rugby on Saturday. We were on the wrong side of the luck but it could have gone either way.

“Both teams played some good rugby but Gosford got the rub of the green. It was an exciting game for the neutral, very entertaining, but it’s onwards and upwards for us.

“We could have got the win. With two or three minutes to go we had a try disallowed and it depends on which side you were on. We were unlucky to have it disallowed.

“One of their defensive players ran into the referee so they went back for a scrum. That would have put us two points ahead.

“It was one of those freak accidents that happen in rugby and we were on the wrong side of it.

“If we had won the match we deserved to, it was not just fluke that we were only three points down. We were very much on top towards the end.

“Had we won the game and I don’t think Gosford could have complained too much.”

The defeat means Drifters remain rooted to the bottom of the division ahead of a trip to second from bottom High Wycombe on November 25, before Reading visit One Pin Lane on December 9.

Heeks said: “Performances are getting better week in week out and we’re certainly in a better position than we were eight weeks ago. High Wycombe are in a similar position to us and Reading are up and down.”

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