RUGBY: League Third Place Confirmed
10 April: Hastings & Bexhill 38, Gravesend II 0
17 April: Tunbridge Wells II 36, Hastings & Bexhill 35
H & B have just one game left in the Kent 3 Counties league season after two contrasting matches this month confirmed they will finish in third place (out of eleven).
In a comprehensive home victory over Gravesend 2nd XV, H & B ran in six tries – two from winger Matt Shephard, two from no. 8 Frazer McManus, and one each from prop Kaleb Wiggan and Bruce Steadman, who also converted four of them. The clean sheet in defence was a pleasing bonus.
A week later, with third place now guaranteed, H & B travelled to Tunbridge Wells, who had suffered only one league defeat all season.
The home side roared into a 22-point lead with four tries in the first quarter. But H&B hit back. Captain Harry Walker and Isaac Wales scored first half tries themselves, Steadman added a couple of penalties, and when Walker (again) and Calvin-Crosby Clarke went over in the second half, they led 30-29.
Although Wells regained the lead with their sixth try, Max Mowbray scored for H & B in a late scramble. Conversion would have secured a one-point victory. Steadman’s attempt hit the right hand post, and bounced away.
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