H&B overturn half time deficit

Ben Campbell scored Hastings & Bexhill's fourth try against Foots Cray

In the end their battling spirit and cool heads prevailed, but for much of the first half it looked possible that H&B would suffer a second defeat on the road, this time to the league’s South East London struggling new boys.

After 30 minutes of deadlock a series of penalties took Crays into H&B’s 22, earned Mark Piotrowski a card, and ended with a Cray pushover try for a 5-0 lead.

As weather conditions started to improve, so did H&B and a Tom Waring penalty made it 5-3 at half time.

In the second half, Anthony Roche dived over from a ruck for a try converted by Waring for a 5-10 lead. Ben Campbell’s footwork took him past defenders, Eliot Parry’s changes of direction took him over the line - 5-15.

Jason Holewell threw a smart short ball to Roche, who combined with Piotrowski for Alex Waring to dive over for a textbook forwards’ try. A breakout, more strong running and offloading through half a dozen hands, and Campbell was over for the bonus point fourth try for second-placed H&B against second-bottom opposition.

H&B: Roche, Holewell, McDonough, Adams (c), R. McManus, Stern, Waring, Piotrowski, Harbord, K. Claughton, Parry, P. Claughton, Campbell, Crosby-Clarke, T. Waring. Subs (both used): Haddock, Butler.

See Friday’s Observers for a full report.