RUGBY: H&B Rampant as they Extend Winning Run
Hastings & Bexhill–68,
Tunbridge Wells 2nd XV–5
PETER KNIGHT
In totally dominating this game at their Ark Alexandra ground last Saturday, Hastings & Bexhill recorded their fifth successive victory – a hat-trick of away wins, a home walk-over, and now a rampant display against the team from Tunbridge Wells. They matched a big opposition in the scrum, and their backs tore the visitors’ defence apart, scoring ten tries and converting nine.
Fielding a XV that showed only one change from the previous game at Gravesend, H&B ran up a 21-point lead by half time. Tries came from skipper Harry Walker, full back Hudson Wales and second row Suphanat Cramp. All three were converted by Tom Hirst, who has become a more than reliable kicker.
Cramp was then replaced by Matt Stringer, and Quin McManus by Vinnie Harrison. Almost from the kick-off, Harrison marked his return with a well-taken try. This was quickly followed by further tries from Joe Whitehill James, Blake Dixon and Tom Hirst, who added three more conversions. Sam Surridge then replaced Hirst; he himself crossed the whitewash three times more and converted two. Tunbridge Wells scored a consolation try late on.
This victory puts H&B up to fourth in the Kent 3 Counties league table with an outside chance of finishing in second place and thus gaining league promotion. That’s a tall order: in order to do so, they would have to bridge the eight-point gap between themselves and Beckenham 2nds over the final two fixtures of the season. But at the next round on 22 March Beckenham have to play away at Tunbridge Wells – who are likely to field a distinctly stronger side at home than at Hastings – while H&B will have a rather easier task, at least on paper, away at Whitstable. If these results both go H&B’s way, then there’s the prospect of a final match on 5 April in which Beckenham will play host to H&B with the runners-up spot still at issue.
Whatever the final outcome, the recent successes are a tribute to the commitment of the squad and their coaches Bruce Steadman and Ben Petty, assisted by Steve McManus who drills the forwards.
On 12 April H&B will entertain a Sussex Martlets XV as part of the club’s centenary celebrations.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply