RUGBY: Youth Success from Adult Dedication at H&B
CHERYL SITCH and PHILIP USHER
The Hastings and Bexhill under 15s squad is made up of 28 boys, some that have played since they have been five years old, some that have joined the club this season. Within the group, seven boys train in Development Player Programmes of professional clubs – six at Harlequins, one at Saracens. But they also have four dedicated local coaches, Ben Davies, Roger Roberts, Paul Fielder and Olly Turpin, all of whom have long-term connections with H&B or other East Sussex clubs.
Ben started playing rugby for H&B when he was nine years old and is still a current senior H&B player (when his body allows). He has held the roles of director of rugby, senior team coach and is now co-junior chairman.
Roger started his rugby playing at William Parker School when he was 14 years old, then joined H&B to play in the junior and colts teams. He progressed on to the senior team and became club captain for two years, though he now applies his skills in refereeing and coaching.
Paul also started to play when he was at William Parker. As a senior he played at Rye Rugby Club.
Olly started playing as a wee seven-year-old in Derbyshire, was a schoolboy player in North Wales, then moved down south and played for Eastbourne and Hellingly until his late 30s.
Paul and Olly both brought their sons to the club as juniors, then decided to get involved with coaching and volunteer their time, along with Ben and Roger, as part of the coaching team for the U15s age group.
This season, the H&B U15s are in Sussex League 1. They started with a draw against Haywards Heath, have beaten Chichester and Eastbourne, and lost to Hove, Worthing and Pulborough. That record puts them in sixth place, with one game to play against East Grinstead on 24 March. There have also been friendlies with Cranbrook, Bromley and Horsham, and more planned against Gillingham, Dartford Valley and Lewes.
The U15s have a “take over day” on Sunday 14 April, when they will host a tournament featuring seven other teams from across Kent and Sussex.
WIN OVER EASTBOURNE
In the meantime, there’s nothing more satisfying than a hard-fought win against your closest neighbours. That’s how it turned out in the U15s’ most recent game against Eastbourne on 3 March.
Eastbourne’s strong runners and their speed at the ruck gave them early momentum and two unconverted tries. H&B scrumhalf Rupert Sheppard found a gap in the opposing ranks to touch down for a try in response, but Eastbourne came again with two swift tries as several tackles were missed in defence. At 22-5 down, it seemed that H&B were heading for a heavy defeat.
But slowly the tide turned. H&B altered their tactics in possession, choosing a more expansive game, moving the ball wider and evading the physically larger Eastbourne team. They also covered faster in defence, denying their opposition the time in attack that they had hitherto enjoyed.
Up front captain Azat Kesen and his band of forwards drew in the Eastbourne defence in the tight, giving more space to the backs.
With more possession and attacking intent of their own, H&B provided some champagne rugby. Both centres Louis Turpin and William Richardson started to break the gain line consistently, full back Ben Coulson was able to join the attacks, and wingers Thomas Bryant and Kieron Robinson were able to exploit the space created.
A rampaging run by number 8 Toby Fielder turned the defence, and a desperate clearing kick by Eastbourne found Coulson, who embarked on a mazy run to return the backs with interest. Turpin barrelled over to score a try that was converted by William Roberts.
That score released the floodgates. Roberts scored another try, which he himself converted to bring the score up to 22-19. Sheppard touched down his second to put H&B ahead, then flanker Monty Wheeler went over to score H&B’s fifth, making the final score 31-22 in their favour.
Hastings & Bexhill RFC are always looking to recruit new players from five-years-old upwards – adults, girls and boys of all abilities. See the website www.hastingsrugby.org or email [email protected] to arrange a free, no obligation try-out.
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