Leaders H&B aim to wrap up year with home wins

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club is targeting a pair of victories in its final two games of 2016 to top the table at Christmas.
Action from Hastings & Bexhill's last game against Old Williamsonians two weeks ago. Picture courtesy Nigel BakerAction from Hastings & Bexhill's last game against Old Williamsonians two weeks ago. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker
Action from Hastings & Bexhill's last game against Old Williamsonians two weeks ago. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker

H&B will host eighth-placed Sittingbourne tomorrow (Saturday) and bottom club Snowdown CW next weekend seeking to consolidate their current five-point lead at the Kent One summit.

“We’ll be looking for good results on both occasions and then we can chill out for a week or so over Christmas,” said head coach Chris Brooks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’re always quietly confident, but never complacent about it. There’s always the spectre of a giant-killing effort by a club.”

As they approach the midway point in their league campaign, H&B will be keen to hit straight back after suffering their first defeat last time out, albeit only just in a 13-12 loss away to third-placed Old Williamsonians two weeks ago.

“There was disappointment across the board after the last game, in which they didn’t play badly,” added Brooks. “Just a couple of bits and pieces that could’ve been done a bit differently in retrospect.”

H&B received a walkover through to the quarter-finals of the London & SE Junior Vase after Beccehamian, who they were due to host in round three last weekend, conceded the game due to the absence of a front row.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

* Rye Rugby Club is determined to make a long journey worthwhile with a victory tomorrow.

The New Roaders will make the 160-mile plus round trip to Midhurst gunning for their second away win of the Sussex Division Two season.

Rye coach Jeremy Nobbs said: "Availability is good. We've got around about 17 people, which is a fantastic outcome given we're going all the way to Midhurst. I think it's one of those things where everybody's desperate to get a proper win rather than a walkover."

Rye are eighth in the table with four wins from their opening 10 matches, two of which have been as a result of opponents conceding. They trail Midhurst by six points and two places.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"They're a similar sort of club to us; they have their challenges as well," continued Nobbs. "It's a game we can win, but it's a long journey and the problem is shaking off the fatigue of the journey and getting ourselves ready for the game without a lot of time to do it."

After being fixtureless last weekend and receiving a walkover a fortnight ago, tomorrow's clash will be Rye's first for three weeks.

"Whatever happens we've got to put in a performance," added Nobbs. "We're missing a few people away, but we've still got a decent side out and we've got the firepower to win."

See our comprehensive sports coverage in the Observer every Friday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Related topics: