H&B aiming to be top of tree at Christmas

Action from Hastings & Bexhill's last home game against Old Williamsonians on October 9. Picture by Simon Newstead

With only four points between third-placed H&B and the Kent One summit, a win at home to HSBC tomorrow (Saturday) in the first of two more league games before the festive break could give them an important boost.

“If I can get 10 points out of the last two games then that will be fantastic. I’m hoping we can continue to improve before the Christmas break and get 10 wins out of the 12 (remaining) league games, as well as a cup win under our belt,” said Smith.

“We’ve got a difficult game against HSBC. They’re another potential banana skin, but I’m confident the guys will play good rugby and we’ll get the result. “

H&B picked up a 34-13 victory away to third-bottom Sittingbourne last weekend despite making the journey without several of their leading players.

“We were missing some influential players due to the Barbarians-Fiji game, but the players we had did a great job,” added Smith. “We were under the cosh for 20 minutes, but we changed things around in the pack and started to play our brand of rugby. Our two props did a brilliant job for us.”

Standings (all played 10 matches): 1 Park House 41pts, 2 Cranbrook 39, 3 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 37, 4 Southwark Lancers 30, 5 Vigo 26, 6 Old Gravesendians 26, 7 Old Williamsonians 22, 8 HSBC 22, 9 King’s College Hospital 18, 10 Sittingbourne 13, 11 Foots Cray 8, 12 Shooters Hill 7.