H&B title hopes in tatters

Title hopefuls H&B have now lost their opening three fixtures of the rugby season to all but dash any hopes they had of challenging for honours.

In spite of the loss, this was a vastly-improved display as they came within a score of holding title favourites Hove who finished fourth from bottom of London Four last season.

The visitors showed a greater determination and discipline than in their ghastly defeat to Heathfield seven days earlier and had their visibly rattled opponents hanging on at the end after two of their players were banished to the sin-bin.

Assistant coach Rob Hamilton said: "It was a much better performance and I was greatly heartened by it. We didn't eliminate all the faults but the attitude was an awful lot better. I really couldn't fault them on the way they played. I'm sure Hove will probably feel they did enough to win the game but they were hanging on desperately at the end."

Despite the scarcity of possession H&B almost made a silk purse out of a sow's ear due to some exceedingly resolute and gutsy defending which left Hove's much-vaunted back division looking decidedly ordinary.

The visitors actually led at half time courtesy of two penalties from the laser-like boot of Paul Sandeman which cancelled out the home team's earlier pushover try from a line-out.

Despite their advantage the William Parker School based outfit were always going to be up against it in the second half as Hove enjoyed the benefit of a stiff breeze blowing down the pitch.

A lack of fortune also didn't help the cause as their lead was wiped out by a freak try just after the 50 minute mark.

Andy Hitch turned the ball over near his own line and as H&B tried to clear their lines the ball somehow went to ground beyond their try line much to the delight of a incredulous home player who, despite being way off the play, simply dropped on it to collect a gift five points.

A penalty followed before a tremendous breakaway score put the hosts 20-6 to the good. H&B rallied defiantly and Seb Halligan burst through with five minutes to go. As the tension mounted Paul Flood was flattened by an apparent open-handed blow directly under the referee's nose but the clock extinguished the fightback.

H&B entertain Seaford at William Parker on Saturday October 17, kick-off 3pm.