H&B triumph in wind and rain

Hastings & Bexhill contest a scrum during their narrow win at home to Vigo. Picture by Simon Newstead

H&B were trying to play their attacking, off-loading game, but were coughing up too many early penalties, and within five minutes Vigo took a three- point lead.

Penalties carried Vigo to H&B’s tryline, diving over from a scrum for a 0-10 lead. When Eliot Parry caught a kick in Vigo’s half and set off the backline, H&B won a penalty, and from a ruck Kit Claughton found a gap in the defence for a try, converted by Tom Waring.

The score changed the balance of the game and five minutes after their try, H&B mounted another attack from a Waring run out of defence with Claughton breaking to the line alonsgside the supporting Anthony Roche, who touched down for a 12-10 lead.

Early in the second half good lineout work by H&B culminated in a penalty in front of the posts, duly kicked by Waring, 15-10. A well-taken lineout on the 22 set up a perfectly-controlled maul to Vigo’s tryline, Adams touching down for a 20-10 lead.

H&B looked to be in the driving seat but it was Vigo who finally broke through H&B’s strong scramble defence in the last few minutes for a converted try to close the score to 20-17, but H&B held on to take victory in the Kent One contest.

See Friday’s Observers for a full report and reaction.

Standings (played 12 matches unless stated): 1 Park House 51pts, 2 HASTINGS & BEXHILL (13) 50, 3 Cranbrook 44, 4 Southwark Lancers (13) 34, 5 Old Williamsonians (13) 32, 6 Vigo (13) 31, 7 Old Gravesendians 30, 8 HSBC 27, 9 King’s College Hospital 23, 10 Sittingbourne 14, 11 Foots Cray 13, 12 Shooters Hill 8.

Rye Rugby Club’s scheduled game away to Eastbourne in Sussex One was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.