Skipper out for three weeks

Second rower Jimmy Adams must serve a mandatory three-week lay-off after being concussed in last weekend’s 35-26 defeat away to Uckfield.

H&B head coach Kevin Smith said: “It’s a big blow. I can’t ever think of him having a poor game and he’s probably one of the best players I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. He’s a top class player and he should be county in my view easily.”

Steve McManus or Matt Harbord will probably lead third-bottom H&B at home to second-placed Dartfordians in London Three South East tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 2.30pm.

“Technically we’re at the same level as the other sides, but we’ve just got to have a little bit of belief,” continued Smith. “The coaches believe in them (the players) and the club believes in them.”

Smith praised the spirit of a patched-up H&B side against Uckfield.

“We had about seven players out and they blitzed us early on so it was quite remarkable to salvage anything from it,” he added. “It was almost like the spirit of Dunkirk. We’re competing for everything and the last 60 minutes it was a credit to them (the players).”

Rye Rugby Club, meanwhile, will travel to Holbrook tomorrow in a clash between the bottom two in Sussex One. Both sides are still searching for their first win of the season.