RUGBY: H&B Fall Short
October 17: Hastings & Bexhill 3, Vigo 18
MAX MOWBRAY
H&B’s second game of the season in the Kent League was another disappointment, adding a second loss and further injuries to the growing tally.
Old opponents Vigo opened the scoring with a penalty to take an early lead. Play continued evenly, with the visitors bullying advantage in the scrums, but the teams otherwise well matched.
The boys in blue & white received their own shot at the posts after half an hour of play, allowing Tom Hirst to level the scores (3-3). Vigo then edged back in front with another penalty (3-6).
The halftime break did little to calm Hastings nerves. Hooker Joe Umpleby was forced from the field to be replaced by Max Mowbray, and play continued on the level.
However, shortly after the hour mark, the visitors extended their advantage, crossing for a try but missing the conversion attempt to move 3-11 ahead.
H&B struggled to find a way back into the contest, despite flowing open play and hard running by Calvin Crosby-Clarke and the day’s captain, Fraser McManus.
Scrum half Ashton Pola was replaced by Sam Surridge, but even the multiple penalties conceded by the visitors for petty misdemeanours and repeated backchat didn’t open up a scoring opportunity.
With ten minutes to play, a confusing break from a maul, during which everybody waited for a whistle that never came, led to a second Vigo try. To add insult, the passage of play also caused further head injuries both to flanker Quinn McManus and to prop Kaleb Wiggan.
With Pola and Dom Sewell returning to the field but no more replacement front rows available, the game was played with uncontested scrums for the closing minutes. Nothing came of the change, the visitors staying comfortably in front (3-18).
A frustrating afternoon for H&B in a season that couldn’t have started more slowly and unsurely. The squad will wish a speedy recovery to the multiple players already on the long term injury list.
Thoughts and prayers this week also go to the family and friends of Jerry Hohenkirk, long standing club member and ex-chairman. RIP.
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