Praise for players stepping up

Hastings & Bexhill’s head coach has praised the players drafted in to cope with the rugby club’s present injury crisis.
Action from Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club's 56-8 defeat at home to Dartfordians last weekend. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-141124-094036002)Action from Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club's 56-8 defeat at home to Dartfordians last weekend. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-141124-094036002)
Action from Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club's 56-8 defeat at home to Dartfordians last weekend. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-141124-094036002)

H&B were missing up to nine players at home to second-placed Dartfordians in London Three South East last weekend, which doubtless contributed to a 56-8 defeat.

Smith said: “If we get a squad together that’s played together we’re a very good squad, but you can’t disguise all this disruption. I don’t want to limit the game; I don’t want to keep it in the forwards and have the backs standing around doing nothing.

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“It’s very difficult for us at the moment, but the guys that we played showed they can play first team. I’ve got nothing but praise for these guys; they’re coming in and playing their hearts out. These guys are going to be in the squad in years to come as a normal thing.

“There were a lot of promising performances from the young guys we put on. They were just too good for us and we lost too many experienced players.”

Smith is grateful that H&B are without a fixture this weekend. Their next game is at home to Pulborough on Saturday December 6. “It gives us a chance to have a rest and step away from rugby for a week,” he added.

Rye RFC is also without a fixture tomorrow.

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