RUGBY: H&B struggle in lower league
After their relegation earlier this year, Hastings & Bexhill may have been expecting a more comfortable experience in the Kent 3 County League this season. It hasn’t worked out that way so far.
Jake Stinson, H&B captain in absence of Harry Walker
They started well enough, racking up ten tries in a 64-19 home victory over Whitstable in their first match in September. Unfortunately new skipper Harry Walker broke his wrist in scoring one of them, and has been sidelined since. Jake Stinson, who claimed a hat-trick of tries, took over the captaincy.
The following two fixtures pitted them against the 2nd XVs of bigger clubs, Tonbridge Juddians and Old Alleynians. Despite valiant efforts they succumbed 12-38 and 15-32 respectively; in the latter game, fly half and place-kicker Bruce Steadman also suffered a serious shoulder injury.
The distraction of the Rugby World Cup taking place in France combined with the unseasonable volumes of recent rainfall – that rendered even the generally accommodating Ark Alexandra home pitch unfit for play – led to only one fixture being fulfilled over the next five weeks, a disappointing 17-20 defeat at Gravesend on 21 October. And last Saturday they were beaten again 7-24 by Faversham.
The next two fixtures will be at home. Tomorrow (Saturday) they entertain New Ash Green, then on 2 December Sittingbourne are the visitors. These are games they will feel they need to win.
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