H&B target flying finish

The rugby club has triumphed in eight of its last 10 Kent One matches and is keen to maintain this fine form during the closing weeks of the season.

H&B head coach Smith said: “Everybody’s up for it and we feel we can win all five. We can win away from home and we’re getting a consistency now.”

Four of H&B’s remaining matches are against teams below them in the table and the other is at home to a third-placed Dartfordians side which H&B beat in the reverse fixture.

Fourth-placed H&B, who will also face Holbrook in the Sussex Shield final at Horsham RFC next weekend, are currently 11 points behind Dartfordians with a game in hand.

“I think it’s possible we can finish third,” continued Smith. “We’ve got the best backs I would say in the league, especially in attack, and I would say we’re the second best defence (behind leaders Gillingham Anchorians).”

Fresh off their 37-10 win away to Whitstable last weekend, H&B return to home soil tomorrow (Saturday) for the first time in three weeks to face a Cranbrook side which beat them 9-5 in November’s reverse fixture.

H&B are struggling for props at present with Tom Spatchurst and Joe Ward, pictured, likely to be out for the rest of the campaign, but Ben Davies, another front row option, is available now.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Rye RFC will seek to continue their good run in Sussex One when they entertain Eastbourne II. Both matches will kick-off at 3pm.