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. 

MAX MOWBRAY

It’s been a fortnight of strong results for Hastings & Bexhill, with two commanding performances in the Kent Counties League.

At home against Old Williamsonians, H & B ran in six tries while keeping a clean defensive sheet.

Dominating the set pieces, the first score came from a line-out and rolling maul which allowed flanker Laurence Maynard to edge over for a proper forwards’ try, 5–0. Then the backs linked well, enabling centre George Feeley to power over for the second. Tom Hirst added the conversion, 12–0.

Gaining confidence and momentum, the third score came from sharp defensive awareness, courtesy of Quinn McManus on the other flank. Charging down a clearance kick and gathering the loose ball, this was a flashy finish against the run of play. The boot of Hirst stretched the lead further, 19–0 at halftime.

The second half began much like the first, with Maynard and Feeley each adding to the tally to bring the score to 33-0. As the game entered its final quarter, the physical toll began to tell. The visitors were now dominant in the scrums, despite several players requiring treatment. However, Hastings maintained control and counter-attacked well, and there was a team try, finished by clean hands from the backs, to finish the scoring. A miss pass from Feeley put Whitehill-James in on the outside, sealing the 38-0 victory.

Last Saturday, away to New Ash Green, H&B made a shaky start, as veteran fullback Jake Stinson went down in the warm-up, then Hirst was forced to retire after only seven minutes of play.

But, bolstered by youngster Ashton Pola and old hand Bruce Steadman, Hastings eased into the game. Scrum half Isaac Wales was first to cross the try line, darting over from the back of a ruck. Additions now came courtesy of Steadman, who slotted the conversion and, shortly after, a penalty to make the score 10-0.

Two more scores preceded half time. Hooker Theo Walker bowled over from the back of a rolling maul, shortly followed by prop Kaleb Wiggan on a thunderous line.

Feedback from coach Ben Petty at half time was to play the systems and get the bonus point. This was achieved just three minutes into the second half, Walker providing the goods with his second score, converted by Steadman (27-0).

Gallant captain Harry Walker then crossed (34-0) before Wales also got his second (39-0), followed by galloping second row Dom Sewell (46-0).

Tempers flared as the home side seemed to slip into desperation. In an unfortunate turn of events, the referee missed the first of these tussles as Wales was busy scoring his hat-trick. Turning around only to see the retaliatory shove by Frazer McManus, the visitors were awarded the try and a yellow card, going into the last 10 minutes 51-0 up but with 14 men on the field.

Further admonitions followed, as a cynical headbutt by the New Ash Green lock attracted a rare red card. Feeley responded with decorum and style, cutting through the home side’s defence to score a minute later (58-0).

Hastings didn’t let off the gas until the final whistle, achieving yet another score in the dying minutes, again courtesy of Walker. Steadman added the extras to finish the game 65-0.

With the 2nd XV also scoring two big wins without reply over the past fortnight and topping their league, these are good times for everyone in blue & white.

14 February: Sittingbourne 33, Hastings & Bexhill 18

MAX MOWBRAY

A depleted Hastings & Bexhill team travelled to Kent League leaders Sittingbourne on 14 February      and suffered defeat after a fierce encounter.

Despite a textbook start from H & B, it was the home side that struck first. Within five minutes Sittingbourne had crossed for a converted try to take a 7–0 lead. Playing a structured game which capitalised on their opponent’s mistakes, the Kent side scored twice more before Hastings could respond. Then utility winger Sam Surridge took the visitors’ first points with a well-struck penalty (19-3), and, after half an hour of play, another. At the break H & B trailed 19-6.

The second half began with real intent from the boys in blue & white. The forwards were dominant against the home side’s beefy pack, controlling many of the set pieces. Hooker Chris Pillow linked well with flanker Quinn McManus to win a majority of line-out ball, and youngster Theo Walker put in a solid performance on his 1st XV debut at prop.

MOMENTUM SHIFT

Strong carrying and improved breakdown work paid off when Joe Whitehill James crossed the line for Hastings’ first try (19-11). Although the conversion drifted wide, momentum had clearly shifted.

Sittingbourne responded with a converted try of their own (26–11), but H&B refused to fade. Centre George Feeley powered over the line following sustained pressure, Surridge adding the extras to close the scoreline to 26–18 and set up a tense final quarter.

With both sides attacking hard, it was one-up tackles that ultimately proved Hastings’ downfall. Strong Sittingbourne runners cut through the blue & white defensive line repeatedly, and with 20 minutes to go, the league leaders took another converted score.

With their lead stretched to 33–18, the home side dug in and managed to keep the visitors out for the remainder of the match.

Despite the score, Hastings will take positives from their set piece and link play, which kept them in contention against the top side in the league.

There was no game last Saturday, but a busy end to the season now awaits, with seven league games in the next nine weeks. The top two sides, Sittingbourne and Tunbridge Wells II – each suffering only one defeat all season to date – are unlikely to be overhauled. But H & B will aim to win against the rest in order to secure a third place finish. Tomorrow (Saturday) they host Old Williamsonians.

MAX MOWBRAY

Hastings & Bexhill’s finest travelled northwards on Saturday for a chilly but bright afternoon at Dartford. This was a great display of community rugby and a strong performance for the boys in blue & white.

H&B’s main training during the week was on speed and intent from kick-off, and the coaching staff will be pleased with the day’s work. Leading the dominant charge from the first whistle, captain Harry Walker opened the scoring after just five minutes of play. His try was calmly converted by winger Sam Surridge: 0-7.

Maintaining this momentum, Hastings quickly scored another, courtesy of George Feeley on the other wing: 0-14.

As the home side struggled to gain a foothold, penalties started to mount up. A well-struck shot at goal from Surridge pushed the score to 0-17 before a spectacular display of hands in motion from the Hastings back line resulted in a try in the corner for centre Joe Field: 0-22 at the break.

MORE OF THE SAME

The second half began much like the first, with H&B firmly on the front foot. Field grabbed his second try, bringing the score to 0-29 and also pulling firmly ahead in the locally coveted Flash v Wriggly Cup. The visitors’ spirits were up but, with the sun setting, the first cracks began to appear.

Emotions were now running high on both sides, and several changes were made. Fly half Bruce Steadman was replaced by Lewis Sealy after acting as a very efficient speed bump on several occasions. Scrum half Ashton Pola was forced to leave the field early with a head injury, giving back row Laurence Maynard a go in his second favourite position on the wing, whilst the capable Surridge took over at 9.

Dartford were then reduced to 14 men following multiple high tackle offences, but managed from the depths of despair to produce their only score of the afternoon: a darting run took Hastings by surprise and rewarded them with a consoling 7 points.

NO COMEBACK

Into the last quarter, veteran hooker Chris Pillow replaced Max Mowbray in the front row and made a quick impact. Any brief dreams of a Dartford comeback were extinguished as Pillow, by name but not by nature, powered over for H&B’s next try: 7-34.

Hastings were now confidently back in control, capitalising clinically on another Dartford sin-bin. A hungry Steadman subbed himself back on to bump and dive his way over the whitewash: 7-41. Then, in the dying minutes, Suphanat Cramp, returning from time off with a broken hand to bolster the Hastings pack, rounded off an excellent team performance by skipping over for a final score of 7-46.

H&B will take confidence from this result – a commanding away victory, built on clean handling and vicious intent. They now go into a two-week break before returning to start their cup campaign against Pulborough in early February.

MAX MOWBRAY

Hastings & Bexhill returned to winning ways last Saturday, donning their alternative all-yellow kit against blue-and-white rivals Whitstable and securing a bonus-point victory which returns them to third place in the Kent Counties league table.

They didn’t start well. A well-drilled move off the lineout sent Whitstable over the whitewash first, and a series of bombardments on the Hastings line led to a second try: 0-10.

But the home side gradually found their rhythm. A try by Quinn McManus converted by Tom Hirst brought them back to 7–10, before captain Harry Walker greedily darted his way over to edge them ahead, 12–10. A high tackle resulted in the visitors suffering a 10-minute stint with 14 men. H&B capitalised on the resultant penalty to take a 15–10 advantage at halftime.

Whitstable broke through early in the second half to regain the lead, 15–17. But this proved to be their final score. Hastings, now reawakened, remembered how to tackle, and responded decisively.

After numerous tap-and-go attempts, Walker managed to burst his way over the Whitstable try line once more. Coupled with a conversion from the increasingly reliable boot of Hirst, this reclaimed the lead, 22–17.

H&B then pressed the advantage of a second Whitstable yellow card to score two further converted tries, one for each prop – a classic rolling maul finished by Jack Hard for 29-17, then a storming breakaway run by man of the match Kaleb Wiggan: 34-17.

Special mentions to Lewis Sealy, back in the H&B squad after a torn bicep put him out of action last year, to Calvin Crosby-Clarke, throwing darts in the lineouts and commanding play as always, and to Joe Field, also back from injury, who defended stoutly in midfield.

Hastings Priory enjoyed a memorable summer as they strode with only occasional stumbles to the Sussex League Division 2 championship title, 52 points ahead of their nearest challengers West Thakeham & Chiltington, and 92 more than Brighton & Hove in third place.

For the first season in a long time, there was no overseas recruit, and former key players Tom Gillespie and John Morgan played only sporadically. But the team developed a winning mentality under captain Harry Scowen with every member of it making valuable contributions.

Scowen himself hit 568 runs at an average of over 40 including a couple of centuries, and maintained a consistent opening partnership with Caleb Laloo. When one or both failed, there was always plenty to come: Shawn Johnson, Iden McCleave, Greg Devlin, Eddy Finch, Ryan Hoadley, Seaver Cowley and (when available) Gillespie all weighed in with important innings. Most extraordinary performance was the ninth wicket partnership between Freddie Hulbert and Adam Page at Roffey in mid-June, scoring 56 runs off the last 18 balls to win with one ball to spare.

In the field, the arrival of Johnson and Hulbert hugely increased the vigour and variety of Priory’s bowling attack, which seldom failed to dominate opposing batsmen – particularly on the home wickets at Horntye Park, which favoured spinners all season. Johnson, Page and Adam Barton took regular advantage, and the Hastings side were unbeaten there all season.

Fielding standards were also high, with Johnson, Finch and Hoadley leading the way. Devlin and Scowen shared wicket-keeping duties; when both were unavailable with finger injuries, Finch deputised.

And a word of appreciation from this newspaper to photographer Craig Nowlan, who kept us consistently supplied pictorially.

Next season Priory will be back in the Sussex Premier League, where they surely belong.

Football

The calendar year has featured four successive men’s team managers at the Pilot Field as Hastings United were relegated from the Isthmian Premier League to its South-East Division in April, then struggled to adapt to lower life in the new season.

The team was already in free-fall when Danny Searle took over in December 2024. It included some stand-out performers at Premier level – Louis Rogers in goal, former Sutton United midfielder Adam Lovatt in midfield, and Davide Rodari, a talented striker. But the defence leaked goals and, when Searle closed the gaps with a more defensive system, the process of scoring at the other end dried up. United sank into the league’s bottom four, and by the end of March, when Searle was relieved of his duties, relegation had become virtually inevitable.

Departing with him went half his team. Club chairman Dean White took over the role on a temporary basis, bringing forward some junior players from the Academy to play out the season as the drop was confirmed. Most of the rest left in the course of the summer, so that Lee Carey, former club captain appointed to make a fresh start in August, had to work with a squad largely unknown to each other or to their supporters.

Although the new team started the new competitive season with three clean sheets, the art of goal-scoring – now without Rodari’s input – remained elusive. Senior players Brad Barry, recruited from Eastbourne Borough, and Tom Vickers, who formerly played alongside Carey in a ‘U’s shirt, never gained full fitness; there were other debilitating injuries, notably to defensive mainstay Dean Gunner, and other recruits whom Carey brought in proved of variable quality. By late October, after only two wins in 12 league games and removal from all major cup competitions, it was crisis time. Carey left “by mutual consent”; again, several of his squad left with him. David Altendorff, former manager at Lancing and then Whitehawk, was ushered in.

So far, the changes which Altendorff has made in both style and personnel seem to have been effective. A new pairing in central defence, Sam Pidgeon and Eugene Asike, have both staunched defensive frailties and scored themselves at the right end, while the busy and skilful midfield duo of Jordan Mase and George Taggart have given the team the capability of building well-constructed attacks, and three successive league wins will lead supporters to hope for further advance in the New Year.

Attendances at the Pilot Field have held up well despite the on-field struggles. The team never lacks for support. The playing surface, hardly in prime condition at the start of the year, suffered from drought over the summer, then the wet weather over the autumn: a couple of games have had to be postponed. The Board has ambitious plans, though, to reconfigure the ground in the 2026 close season.

The women’s team seems to have found its level in mid-table of Division 1 South of the London & South-East Regional League, which is Level 6 of the women’s national pyramid (the men’s team are at Level 8 of theirs). Billy Woods, former CEO of the club, has returned as team manager.

Many thanks to Jon Smalldon for supplying pictures during the year.

Tennis

Amherst and The Green clubs continue to provide respective teams to compete at various levels of the National League (singles and doubles), Sussex Summer and Winter Doubles Leagues, and Wealden (mixed) League.

The Green men did well over the summer to retain their position in Division 2 of the Sussex National League. In Division 3 East their second team were on a par with the Amherst first team, the honours being shared 6-6 in a very close encounter between them.

In summer doubles competitions, the Amherst teams retained their status in Division 4 (men) and Division 3 (women); The Green men, without the participation of coaches Joe Adams and Ross Cudmore, stayed in Division 8, the women likewise in Division 4.

In the current winter doubles, The Green men, featuring Adams and/or Cudmore, play in Division 2, while Amherst are back in Division 5. Amherst’s women, even without star junior Jada Ani, are fighting hard to stay in Division 2, sharing 2-2 draws in three out of their four encounters to date with some stalwart performances from captain Nikki Crowhurst, Pearl Hare, Karen Cunnington and Debi Ani.

The Green mixed doubles team finished runners-up in the 2024-25 Wealden League.

In the finals of Amherst’s club tournament back in June, Quentin Soucek retained his singles title, while Hare reversed the previous year’s final match outcome in defeating Crowhurst. Doubles finals were family triumphs, Quentin teaming up with son Orlando for a Soucek win, whilst Debi Ani and daughter Jada repeated their 2024 victory. Hare paired with Josh Craig to win the mixed doubles.

A month later, Adams won his tenth club singles title at The Green; Amanda Ruck was women’s champion for the twelfth time. Ruck was also a winner in both the women’s and mixed doubles, with Beaula Page and Chris Grief respectively, while the men’s doubles were won by Grief and Paul Tune.

Last February, at the Tennis Sussex annual awards held at the Amex Stadium in Falmer, Adams was named the county’s Coach of the Year, and Cudmore Disability Player of the Year. The latter won a World Championship title in 2024 in Para-Standing Tennis (non-wheelchair tennis for players with physical disabilities), and has continued to take part in disability awareness events both regionally and internationally in 2025.

At the LTA national awards in May, Adams received a further accolade as national Coach of the Year, while the refurbished courts at Alexandra Park, where he and Cudmore also provide coaching, were honoured as Tennis Park Venue of the Year. Another member of The Green, Christine Greenwood, was given the LTA’s highest award for a volunteer, the Meritorious Service Award, in recognition of her dedication and contribution to tennis over several decades.

Last month, Cudmore was named Sports Personality of the Year at a Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards evening.

Hockey

The South Saxons club saw both their first teams, men and women, promoted in the spring as champions of their respective Martlets divisions of the South-East Hockey League – in each case to Division 1 West for their respective sex. And both are now playing their games and training on the smooth pitch at Bexhill Academy, leaving other club teams still coping with the roughed-up surface at Horntye Park.

The men seemed to be holding their own at the higher level, with only one league win but five draws in their first eight games. With a number of injuries disrupting team selection, they suffered heavy defeats in their last three before the Christmas break (4-1, 8-0 and 4-0) but they maintain a position above the relegation zone, and will hope to get back on track in the New Year.

The women have not been able to retain the form of last season in the higher league, losing all 11 games played so far. Again, injuries, including a broken finger suffered by their captain Caitlin Merison, have taken their toll.

There still seems some uncertainty about the planned move on to a permanent home at Hastings Academy for all the club’s teams.

Rugby

Hastings & Bexhill celebrated their club centenary in 2024-25 with a series of formal events. They have also upped their game on the field, not only recording regular victories in the Counties 3 Kent League on their Ark Alexandra home ground, but travelling successfully too.

Last season they finished with seven straight wins, five of them away from home, to finish third. In the current season 2025-26 they started uncertainly but have won their last five matches, including a thrilling victory 32-31 away last Saturday against Gravesend II. Tomorrow (Saturday) they host Tunbridge Wells II, currently second in the league table: another win would close the gap between them to a point or two.

Captain Harry Walker has led by example, and tries have been shared between forwards and backs, Isaac Wales and Tom Hirst leading the count. Hirst has mostly slotted his kicks when required. 

MAX MOWBRAY

Hastings & Bexhill enjoyed two excellent wins over the past fortnight, achieved in contrasting styles. On 22 November they outclassed New Ash Green on their home ground at Ark Academy, running in 11 tries without reply. A week later, away at Gravesend and missing several regular players, they ground out a victory with just a solitary try scored against their old boy hosts.

The first in the flurry of tries against New Ash Green came from prop Jacob McDonough after a strong arm-wrestle on the opposition line, just minutes into the game. Powerhouse second row Calvin Crosby-Clarke was next over the line, soon followed by youngster George Feeley, returning from injury in style. 

The boys in blue and white continued in this manner.  Gallant captain and golden boy Harry Walker finished off the half with two tries of his own, bringing the score to 45-0 at the break. 

After half time Crosby-Clarke scored again, then slick hands from H&B’s confident back line allowed halfback Isaac Wales and fullback Tom Hirst to cross the whitewash shortly after. Winger Sam Surridge took over kicking duties to elevate the one-sided score-line, now 64-0 going into the final quarter. 

The visitors will have hoped for some consolation points when Crosby-Clarke was sin-binned for ten minutes following a midfield melee, but although Hastings found themselves pinned in defence on their own line, they were able to maintain a clean sheet. 

Back row menace Lawrence Maynard and returning hybrid forward Joe Jenner merit special mention, but the man-of-the-match award went to Wales, who scored the final try under the posts after a strong galloping run.

FRESH PLAYERS, FIERCE CONTEST

The line-up against Old Gravesendians featured several fresh players. Youngster Cam Potgieter made his first start for the first XV; Ted Clements and Ashton Pola made first appearances of the season; and veteran Dom Sewell responded to a late call-up to the second row after last minute drop-outs.

The match was fiercely contested, with a number of yellow cards awarded for foul play on both sides.

High tackles led to an early sin-bin for the home side, which left space for a blistering pitch-length try from senior Hastings winger Jake Stinson. It wasn’t converted, but one of two penalties was kicked, putting H&B 8-0 up at the break.

Early in the second half, Walker received a yellow card in turn for more high tackling. This allowed the home side to capitalise with an unconverted try. But Tom Hirst slotted another penalty to take the lead back up to 11-5, and that’s how the scoring ended, even though Quinn McManus and Chris Pillow (coming on with ten minutes left and receiving his yellow card after only 30 seconds on the field) were also given temporary marching orders.

Tomorrow (Saturday) H&B will entertain Brockleians at Ark Alexandra, another game they’ll expect to win in order to maintain their challenge at the top end of the 3 Kent league.

COUNTIES 3 KENT LEAGUE TABLE as at 30 November (top five)

Joe Stinson returned to the side after a three-month lay-off with a hamstring injury. Harry Walker, Frazer McManus, Joe Field, Calvin Crosby-Clarke and Sam Surridge all played prominent roles.

Tries were scored by Joe Whitehill James and by Walker (two), with two conversions and two penalties kicked by Surridge.

The win elevated H & B to third place in the final league table, having conceded less points than any other team in the league over the course of the season–a tribute to excellent defensive organisation.

Next week, as part of the club’s centenary celebrations, H & B entertain a Sussex Martlets XV at their Ark Alexandra ground, kick off 3pm. All are invited to support.

LONDON & SE – COUNTIES 3 KENT League Table (Top six)

Hastings & Bexhill recorded their sixth successive win in the Kent 3 League when they travelled to Whitstable last Saturday and won 23-10. Those victories have included four away from home -no mean feat in a league where sides tend to assemble much stronger line-ups when they’re playing at home.

However, 2nd–placed Beckenham also won convincingly away last Saturday, against Tunbridge Wells 2nd XV, so that their final match with H & B on 5 April will not now decide the runners-up spot. The best H & B can hope for is a victory over them on the day to challenge for third place behind them and champions Tonbridge Juddians. Even then, a bonus point win for Sittingbourne over Brockleians would elevate them above the Hastings team in the final league table.

Nevertheless it’s been a superb run of form for H & B that bodes well for the cup fixtures which are still to be played.

At Hastings Athletics Club (HAC) it’s been a busy and successful year for the club in every discipline – from local events to international level – as it celebrated its 60th anniversary. 

Ten club members featured in the UK top 10 for their age group, and 13 made the top 20 for performances in track, field and road in 2024.  

An astonishing 52 athletes made it into the top 10 in the club’s own records, with 17 breaking a total of 28 club records between them.

Back in February, athletes of different age groups won medals in indoor track events and, as the cross-country season wrapped up, youth athletes represented their schools and county up to national level. The adult team joined forces with Hastings Runners to lift aloft the cup for the East Sussex Sunday League. 

At the highly anticipated Hastings Half Marathon in March, HAC’s Grace Baker was first female home, nearly seven minutes ahead of her nearest challenger; Rhys Boorman, also of HAC, came sixth in the men’s race. Tom Chaffin won the mini-run. 

Track season brought top performances in the youth development league and Southern Athletics league, while the Sussex County Championships produced 12 medals. Rae Le Fay went on to represent Team GB in the 2,000 metres steeplechase – the first HAC athlete to do so at international level in the last ten years. She broke a British Milers Club record on her qualifier at under 20s level, her name now to be etched on the awards board in the clubhouse alongside many club legends.

A surge in interest for field events was well supported, leading to two hammer throwers, Alanna Oakman and Kitti Szabo-Papp, competing nationally at the English Schools championships. 

The club hosted not only two very successful league events on the track, but also a 60th anniversary competition and awards ceremony emphasising the longstanding camaraderie among its members. The clubhouse has had a refresh and is now a buzzing social hub at the end of every session. There is huge optimism for 2025.

FOOTBALL

It’s been a tale of three managers at the Pilot Field in 2024 – four if you count the caretaker role played last month by coach Sean Ray. A year ago Chris Agutter was in his second stint at the helm after arriving in October. He steered Hastings United to the fringes of the promotion play-offs at the top of the Isthmian Premier League in the spring, then left for the richer pastures of Worthing, now going well in the Vanarama National League. Danny Bloor, once of Eastbourne Borough, came in May, but was gone by late October. New appointment from the beginning of this month is Danny Searle, former youth coach at West Ham, who is armed with a UEFA Pro Licence and has previous managerial experience at several clubs in the National League.

At the beginning of April, Agutter’s team seemed well set to finish in the league’s top five, but a disappointing run at the end of the season – only one win in the last five games – meant a final placing of seventh, nine points short of the lowest play-off place. They also disappointed in losing the Sussex Transport Cup Final 3-0 to Horsham at the Amex Stadium. Despite having signed an extension to his contract for the 2024-25 season, Agutter swiftly announced his departure.

Incoming boss Bloor could point to an excellent record at Eastbourne, and came in praising the quality of the playing squad he was inheriting at the Pilot Field, the calibre of the directors and staff he was joining, and the passion of ‘U’s supporters. Most players were retained from the previous season, though the speed and skill of winger John Ufuah has been sorely missed. And initial results were encouraging, Horsham being beaten 2-0 on the opening day, followed by an away win at Whitehawk and progress through two rounds of the FA Cup. 

However, the team lacked the control in midfield that Agutter had always espoused, and leaked goals in defence. Reverses were suffered both away and at home: cup eliminations were coupled with a slide down the league table to the relegation zone. Bloor was unceremoniously dismissed after an FA Trophy defeat at Hadley on 26 October.

Ray took the reins as interim manager and, like his predecessors, started with a win, 2-0 at home to Whitehawk. But a fortnight later, with several players less than fully fit, the ‘U’s suffered a humiliating 9-0 league defeat at Hendon, and it is probably a relief all round that a more travelled manager has now arrived.

The choice of Searle for the managerial job is presumably based upon his record of enhancing youth development. There’s clearly scope for that in Hastings, though the standard of playable training facilities may be rather lower than he is used to. Most observers would agree that there is enough footballing talent available, if the team is set up capably and recovers good fitness levels. Davide Rodari is a proven goalscorer, Adam Lovatt is a hard-working and combative captain in midfield, and young players like George Walker, Freddie Legg and Fin Chapman should improve with experience. 

So far, Searle has seen his team score a league cup win on penalties over third-placed Cray Valley PM, a 3-2 away win over Chichester City and a gutsy 1-1 draw away last Saturday at second-placed Billericay.  

CRICKET

Hastings & St Leonards Priory cricketers experienced an ultimately unsuccessful return to the Sussex Premier League in 2024 when they were relegated by the narrowest of margins. In other years their record over the season of six victories and nine defeats might have accumulated them enough league points to survive, but they finished just three points short of eighth-placed Bognor Regis.

Needing a victory on the last day at home to runners-up Horsham in order to retain their status, they only got the game going at all by a mopping-up operation after heavy overnight rain. Batting first in a contest reduced to 40 overs per side, Priory scored a total of 165 for seven; Horsham accumulated steadily in reply, but wickets then tumbled under murky skies, and the last over came with nine wickets down and nine runs to win – or eight to tie, which would have been sufficient for Priory’s escape. It was not to be: a conclusive boundary was hit off the penultimate ball, and the Hastings side will be playing back in Division 2 next summer.

On the batting front, new captain Harry Scowen led from the front all summer, scoring 556 runs from 14 innings, including two centuries. Caleb Laloo also enjoyed an excellent first season as an opener. But none of the middle order, often required to accelerate the tempo after a sedate start, retained any consistent form, so that the side posted competitive totals on too few occasions.

John Morgan was yet again the pick of the bowlers, taking 22 wickets. Adam Barton gave him good support when available, and Adam Page enjoyed his best season to date as spinner. Aussie recruit Alex Osborne was unable to bowl his leg-spinners with any sort of control, however, and was ultimately released in mid-season. Young all-rounders Seaver Cowley and Iden McCleave had their moments of success with both bat and ball, but lacked the consistency which more experience may bring.

The future of Priory’s home ground, Horntye Park, is still in the balance, the plans to dig it up for housing seeming no further forward than this time last year.  

RUGBY

With a new chairman Ben Davies, a new coaching duo of Bruce Steadman and Ben Petty, and a new captain, Harry Walker, Hastings & Bexhill have been celebrating their centennial season with eyes on the future as well as the past.

On the pitch, having survived the threat of a second successive relegation in the Kent League in the spring, H & B’s first XV have performed well this autumn, chalking up seven victories out of 11 matches in Counties 3. Top three in the division are 2nd XV teams from Tonbridge (Juddians), Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham, but the Hastings team beat Beckenham convincingly in their opening game in September and went down only narrowly 14-17 to Tunbridge Wells a month ago. Defence has been strong – they have conceded less league points than any other team; and when their backs are on song, they can also score freely: New Ash Green were thumped 47-15 at H & B’s home ground of Alexandra Academy last Saturday.

The squad is still lacking in numbers, short of sufficient replacements when first picks are injured or otherwise unavailable, though those who have come in have generally acquitted themselves well. One boost is the return of Quin McManus after a spell in New Zealand.

Women’s and junior/ ‘mini’ teams have, in the meantime, been thriving. The women have combined to produce a joint team with Seaford. The ‘minis’ train at the club every Sunday between 9.30 and 11am – playing full contact rugby at under 9, under 10 and under 11 levels. The under 10s won their first game of the Polgrove Salts Cup, defeating Seaford earlier this month.

Lower age-groups play under ‘tag’ rules, with numbers surging after the club’s annual ‘bring a friend’ day. There will be several festivals of rugby for them to play in early next year. And there is now an under 6s section for children in school Reception and Year 1, learning basic ball control through playing fun and interactive games with a dedicated coach.

Off the pitch the club has held a centenary ball as well as two lunches for former players.

TENNIS

The (mostly) friendly dance of rivalry between the Amherst club in Hastings and The Green in St Leonards continued in 2024 with perennial ups and downs. 

In the Tennis Sussex Winter Doubles competition, The Green men’s team, boosted by participation of coaches Joe Adams and Ross Cudmore (late of Amherst), were promoted to Division 2 in the spring and have scored two match wins out of three in the current season. Shorn of these players, they’re not the same force, as they showed finishing mid-table in Division 8 of the equivalent Summer competition.

Amherst, too, were promoted from Division 5 to Division 4 of the 2023-24 Winter league, with consistent performances by captain Dylan Preece, Quentin Soucek, Anthony Hickey and Mark Cunnington. They have been struggling, however, at the higher level. In the equivalent Summer Doubles, starting in Division 3, they fielded nine players including several new to first team play, but were unable to win a team match and will play next summer back in Division 4.

On the women’s side, The Green were relegated from Division 3 to Division 4 in the spring despite the efforts of their always proficient first pairing, Beaula Page and Amanda Ruck. In the Summer league they finished mid-table in Division 4.

Amherst’s women were involved in thrilling finales in both competitions. Needing a 3-1 victory in their final Winter match away at Horsham to be promoted to Division 2, they won all three matches in third set tie-breaks, Pearl Hare paired with Nikki Crowhurst, Anita Pearce with Jane Garrett. Summer Division 3 was just as tight: again Amherst needed a 3-1 win away against Seaford & Blatchington for equivalent promotion. All four matches went to third set tie-breaks: this time Pearce and Debi Ani won both theirs, but Crowhurst and Hare suffered agonising defeats.

There are no inter-club matches featuring singles play, but Amherst held a highly competitive closed tournament in June. On a day of freakish wind-gusts, Soucek overpowered Hickey in the men’s final, while Crowhurst and Hare fought a thrillingly turbulent (though immaculately sporting) contest, just edged by the former in another third set tie-break.

CRICKET

Graeme Mounsey, RIP

JOHN MORGAN

Hastings & St Leonards Priory cricketers are mourning the death of former president, treasurer and player Graeme Mounsey, who has sadly passed away at the age of 90.

Nobody has done more for the Priory club than Graeme. He was a founder member when Hastings & St Leonards merged with The Priory in 1957 to form one of the strongest clubs in the Southeast, and was captain when it joined the Sussex League in 1971. He featured in many of the club’s early successes including the 1974 Kemp Cup win and the 1978 league championship.

He played with distinction in all XIs across the men’s teams, primarily as a wily slow left-arm bowler who put fear into the opposition batting line-up, but also a lower order batsman with a century to his name.

By the late 70s, Graeme had dropped to the 2nd XI, but was leading wicket-taker in 1981. He finished his playing career forming a formidable spin bowling attack in the 4th XI with Peter Finch in the noughties, though not before being recalled to the first team as a 65-year-old when the team was hit by a spin bowling crisis.

Graeme was similarly committed off the field, serving the club in many posts over a cumulative 68 years, as a rigorous and tenacious treasurer (nobody got away with debts to the club), as secretary, and latterly as club president until stepping down earlier this year. He also ran the 100 Club, the draw being the conclusion to many a committee meeting.

From 1974 until 2002, he was the chairman of the Central Cricket Ground Trust, integral in the planning and development of Horntye Park to save senior cricket in the town following the demise of the Central Ground.

   Above all, Graeme was a sincere and caring person, eager to help young players and to share his love of the game and the club. He was a regular spectator, greeting fellow cricket lovers with a cheery smile and a polite ‘good afternoon’. His loss will be sorely felt. 

9 November: Old Gravesendians 7,  Hastings & Bexhill 15
16 November: Hastings & Bexhill 17 Gravesend II 5

Hastings & Bexhill notched two wins in the Kent League on successive Saturdays, both against opposition from Gravesend.

Away wins in this league are always precious, and the victory in north Kent against the old boys team on 9 November was won by “unbelievable grit and determination”, according to H & B coach Ben Petty. The team took advantage of a considerable slope in the first half and built up a 15-0 lead with tries from Matt Stringer and Jacob McDonagh; the first was converted by Tom Hirst, who also kicked a penalty. 

In the second half, playing up the hill, they set up a solid and resilient defence, conceding only a single try. There were good performances throughout the side, especially from two of the younger players in the back row of the scrum, Matt Shepherd and Wes Lorman; the tackling of the backs was excellent, with Hudson Wales and Joe Field putting in some great hits.

A week later H & B entertained bottom-of-the-league Gravesend 2nd XV at their Ark Alexandra ground, with former players gathering at the clubhouse as part of the club’s centenary celebrations. A home victory was duly recorded. However, they’ll need to play rather better tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel again, this time to Tunbridge Wells. Their hosts will be another 2nd XV, but these are league leaders, having won seven matches out of eight so far this season.

Hastings & Bexhill 12 Brockleians 19

Hastings & Bexhill suffered their first home defeat of the season on 19 October when losing to Brockleians in a Kent 3 fixture. Previous home games against Beckenham II and Old Dunstonians had been won convincingly, and H&B will have started this one with confidence. But, on a day of drizzling rain, they made too many handling errors and gave away too many penalties. Brockleians were 9-0 up at half time, after successively punishing three off-side infringements with kicks between the posts, and a fourth kick for the same offence followed early in the second half. 

Joe Field did eventually burst through the visitors’ defence to score a try for H & B, converted by Jackson Coulter, but they then immediately conceded one at the other end after some sloppy defending, and a second touch down by Isaac Wales came too late.

After a rest day last weekend they travel tomorrow (Saturday) to play Old Gravesendians, followed by a home game on 16 November hosting Gravesend II. On that occasion there will be a Reunion gathering for former players from 12 noon onwards as part of the club’s centenary celebrations. Anyone interested in participating should email hastingsandbexhillevents@gmail.com.

Hastings & Bexhill 31 Beckenham II 16

PETER KNIGHT

Hastings & Bexhill kicked off their 100th season last Saturday with a pre-match lunch, the first of many celebratory events. The occasion was attended by local MPs, the Mayor of Hastings, the Principal of Ark Alexandra Academy, four Presidents of Sussex RFU and many of the club sponsors. The team went on to secure a convincing home win in the Kent 3 League against the newly promoted Beckenham II XV. 

New coaches Bruce Steadman and Ben Petty selected a team based on last year’s squad, but included two fresh faces, Jackson Coulter at full back and Vinnie Harrison in the pack. Both are products of the club’s youth development programme.

Hastings opened the scoring with an unconverted try from Coulter. The H&B forwards were dominating the play and fed the ball out to the back line. After increased pressure on the visitors’ defence, centre Jake Stinson benefited from a great break by Tom Hirst to touch down, Hirst converting to make the score 12-0.

Beckenham came back with a converted try and two well-taken penalties to lead by one point at half time.

Barring the concession of one penalty kick, the second half was all about H&B: they dominated every set piece and built up a clear lead. Harrison scored a good try to restore the advantage. Hooker Josh Clarke crashed over the line for the bonus point try, which was converted by Coulter. Then Hirst scored the try of the game with an incisive run through the visitors’ defence to touch down under the posts. A further conversion by Coullter made the final score 31-16.

The whole H&B squad, inspired by captain Harry Walker, put in a great performance, beating a strong London club whose 1st XV play in a league five levels above. Next week H&B are away to New Ash Green, and hopefully they can build on this first success.

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.

In a cup double-header on 22 April covering quarterfinal ties in both the Papa Johns Community Cup and the Bob Rogers Cup, H&B resoundingly beat Burgess Hill (the Sussex All Blacks). A week later, in the semi-final of the former competition, they played a storming first half against Vigo – twice winners over them in league competition earlier in the season – and shortly before halftime held a ten-point lead, 22-12. They could not maintain their form, however, and in the end were well beaten, playing 20 minutes with only 14 men after two successive yellow cards were administered for disciplinary offences.

Against Burgess Hill, playing in ideal conditions, H&B fielded a strong squad and never looked like losing. In the opening exchanges the visitors presented some difficulties with tough tackles and a solid defence, but the Hastings pack dominated the scrum and lineout: Jacob McDonagh, Mike Woodrow and Quin McManus all put in great performances. 

Hat trick of tries

Man of the Match Calvin Crosby-Clark opened the scoring with a fine driving try from a 5m lineout; captain Steadman converted with a good kick. By half time Maynard had scored a hat trick of tries, the third coming as the result of a tremendous break from Harry Walker who put the flanker clear. Crosby-Clark added another try and Steadman was successful with another conversion and a penalty, making the score 32-10 at the interval.

The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first, H&B totally outclassing the West Sussex side and scoring five more tries. Joe Field capitalised on some great backs play to score two; Louis Sealy, Dan Suggitt and Crosby Clark all added to the total, and Steadman completed the rout with two more conversions.

 The visitors did score four tries of their own in reply, these all coming during a period when H&B had two players off the pitch for yellow card offences. The home team might have learnt the cost of indiscipline from this – but seemed to forget it a week later.

Vigo defeat

Last Saturday Steadman opened the scoring with a beautifully struck penalty from 40m out. Vigo hit back with two quick tries to make the score 12-3. H&B lifted their game and from a 5m penalty Ben Davies charged the line to touch down. Steadman converted. Then Maynard made a terrific break to burst through the home defence and whipped the ball outside to Matt Sheppard, who scored a fantastic try. Immediately from the restart the ball was fed out through the backs to Charlie Glasper. He crossed the line under the posts to give Steadman another straightforward conversion. Thus after 36 minutes the score was 22-12, though Vigo added a converted try of their own to reduce the half time deficit to three points.

Unfortunately, the second half was a different story, Vigo scoring four more tries with three conversions. But it has to be said H&B eased their task by conceding far too many penalties as well as two consecutive yellow cards. For 20 minutes of the game Hastings were playing one man down, during which Vigo scored 19 points without reply. At this level an extra player is a big advantage. 

So there’ll be no cup finale this season. Vigo will go on to contest the Papa Johns final at the Saracens’ Stonex Stadium in Barnet. The semi-finals and final of the Bob Rogers Cup will be held over until the beginning of the 2023/24 season.