H&B sign off with a win

Hastings & Bexhill’s final game of the season ended in victory, despite being played in inhospitable conditions and having a man dismissed.
Ben Davies scored Hastings & Bexhill's first and last tries in the win away to Old GravesendiansBen Davies scored Hastings & Bexhill's first and last tries in the win away to Old Gravesendians
Ben Davies scored Hastings & Bexhill's first and last tries in the win away to Old Gravesendians

The 30-17 win away to Old Gravesendians on Saturday means H&B end the campaign in third place in Kent One, with runners-up Beccehamian going into a promotion play-off against an Eastbourne side which came second in Sussex One.

After an even start against Old Gravesendians, H&B finally controlled the ball long enough to reach the red zone when a quick penalty saw Ben Davies score and Ash Diedericks convert for a 7-0 lead.

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Disaster then struck when H&B’s French prop Alex Vedeux was red-carded for retaliation. From the resulting penalty, OG’s levelled the scores. OG’s took the lead early in the second half, but moments later an H&B attack and quick penalty saw Tom Waring scyth through defenders to equalise again.

Diedericks then kicked two penalties, before OG’s closed the gap with a breakout try to make it 17-18. H&B’s seven-man scrum won good ball, Steve McManus driven over for try, converted by Diedericks before Davies dived over for the bonus point fourth try following a lineout.

H&B: Vedeux (McDonough), Davies, S. McManus, R. McManus, Adams (c), Foord-Paton, A. Waring (Edmunds), Piotrowski, P. Claughton, K. Claughton, Parry, Diedericks, Campbell, Crosby-Clarke (Steadman), T Waring.

Rye Rugby Club, meanwhile, ended their Sussex Shield campaign in disappointing fashion, going down 54-10 away to Brighton II. On their first return to the ground where they beat H&B in the Sussex Shield final last month, Rye struggled and slumped to 30-0 deficit at half time.

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An improved display saw Ben Short and Alex Satterfield score tries after the break, but the home side responded with three of their own. Defeat means Rye finish a slightly disappointing sixth, if only because third looked on the cards just two weeks ago.

Rye: D. Smith, Stonham, Satterfield, Piper, Wells, Brown, Edmunds, H. Short, Harvey, T. Nunn, Fitzgerald, Cooke, S. Short, Finn, Moore, Hassell, Martin, Catherlin.