H&B taking nothing for granted

HASTINGS & Bexhill manager Rob Hamilton is taking nothing for granted ahead of their final game of the Sussex One rugby season at home to Rye.

H&B have strung together a phenomenal 13-match unbeaten run against sides from the same league and should they consolidate that record on Saturday April 17 they will entertain Kent League runners-up Old Elthamians in a promotion play-off the following weekend.

But Hamilton believes this will be their toughest ever game against their bottom-of-the-table but improving neighbours.

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"I've no doubt about that at all," he said. "We are very conscious that Rye are waiting for us and they've absolutely nothing to lose. They've put together a couple of good results recently and they clearly are a much-improved side. It's a game we simply cannot afford to take lightly, we've got to try and find a way to forget they are the side at the bottom of the division.

"But we have the ability to put them away. If we play well we will win convincingly but the main thing we have to guard against is any degree of complacency. We're conscious of the fact that a couple of sides have done that and paid the price. Maybe the second half against Seaford (the Sussex Intermediate Shield final in which they almost contrived to squander a commanding lead) did us a bit of a favour because it showed us what can happen if you take your eye off the ball and relax.

"I don't think there'll be a problem in that regard because the players are just so keen to get into these play-offs and this time we really do have a good chance because I think we've got the best team we've had in the three years. And I don't think there will be a problem of players thinking about next week because there won't be a next week in a rugby sense if we don't do the job this week.

"We've got to work quite hard on our discipline and not get involved in anything and let ourselves down in that respect. We're terrifically excited that we've come back, it's been about four months of almost constant success but as far as we're concerned it's a clean slate now, it's two games. We're pretty confident but we've got to not get carried away."

Roger Roberts (back) is their sole absentee, kick-off at William Parker is 3pm.