H&B turn on style in Vase victory

After two successive Sussex Division One wins that left players and coach disappointed with performances that fell short of their ambitions, H&B rediscovered the passion and precision to see off Old Tiffinians 38-7.

Captain Kit Claughton was the beneficiary of his team's rich vein of forceful and creative running rugby, scoring four tries on the end of a series of sweeping moves.

Kicking-off against the wind - and for the third successive home game playing in their change strip - H&B put themselves under pressure in the first quarter, giving away a series of midfield penalties at the breakdown, and over-complicating their attacks. But there were early signs of their resolve, as the pack started dominating the set scrum, competing with the fit, young Surrey old boys at the breakdown, with the back row of Roger Roberts, Andy Hitch and George Cullingford - supported by marauding scrum-half Piers Claughton - completely dominating their opposite numbers around the fringes.

Tiffs, who play in Surrey Division One, tackled with conviction and their fly-half used a variety of kicks to try to get behind H&B's fiery backline. But the hosts were recycling with greater precision than in previous weeks, the back three in particular - Ben Campbell, Tom Brampton and Danny Ralph - cutting great lines and popping the ball in contact, stretching the away defence to its limits.

H&B's pressure led to a penalty in front of the posts after seven minutes, converted by Paul Sandeman. Waves of sweeping H&B attacks, foiled by brave defence, forced the visitors to concede two more penalties in their own 22, both of which were missed. But then, 20 minutes into the game, man of the match Campbell made a searing break down the wing in and out of the defence, with a fine offload in the tackle to release Kit Claughton, who beat the full-back to score in the corner. Sandeman converted the difficult kick, 10-0.

But Tiffs, who had demolished West London 90-10 in round one, weren't about to roll over. A probing kick by their fly-half bobbled over the line, Brampton grounded it at arm's length, but the unsighted referee saw only the chasing Tiffs player dive on the ball, 10-7.

H&B responded positively with more great hands as Neil Redman, who had a rampaging game in the loose as well as an athletic one in the line-out, drove the ball on. Quick ruck ball let Piers Claughton whip the ball wide for his brother to drive through the defence to touch down. Sandeman converted for a 17-7 lead at half time.

H&B hit the ground running in the second half, with the pack controlling the game and the ball up-front, and the backs using their good ball with style and purpose.

A rampaging Cullingford drive towards Tiffs' line, and quick hands in the backs, led to one of Ralph's trademark bullocking dashes through the defence for a well-taken try, converted by Sandeman, 24-7.

Tiffs tried to fight back, but two magnificent H&B line-outs stole the ball, and the hosts similarly turned over an attacking scrum on their five yard line.

One of a number of sinuous breaks by centre Kris Dempster, with a dextrous offload to Kit Claughton in the tackle, allowed the fly-half to carry a couple of defenders over the line to make it 31-7, Sandeman again converting.

Finally, a great break-out by the back line was followed by a scything drive through midfield by Redman and Nick Edmunds, the latter timing his pass to Kit Claughton, who stepped a couple of defenders for a last try, and a full house of conversions for on-form Sandeman.