PROMOTION HOPES DASHED

HASTINGS & Bexhill's slim hopes of making the Sussex League promotion play-off ended in sorry fashion at Horsham on Saturday.

H&B had to win and hope second-placed Heathfield slipped up against Hellingly but these hopes were dashed by a poor first half performance which left them with too much to do.

The hosts ran in three tries in each half to record a comfortable 32-20 success and gain revenge for the thrashing they received when the two sides met earlier in the season.

Horsham opened the scoring slightly against the run of play through Dominic Matthews. Carl Harman stretched their lead before Steve McManus pulled one back for H&B. But a Jamie Bartle score just before the break left the visitors with it all to do.

H&B found themselves 22-8 down before they finally got their act together with Barry Duck grabbing a pair of tries on the wing.

But as they threw the ball around in an attempt to salvage something from the game, they were hit by a breakaway try from Richard Billings. Tim Wills and Andy Stone scored two more late on for Horsham.

Duck and Andy Dalton were the only two players to emerge with any credit from a poor display.

Assisstant coach Rob Hamilton said: "It was not a very good performance - our defence was just not good enough. Our coach Rob Stanley said the first half was the worst half we have had all season."

The defeat has rendered H&B's final game of season at home to Heathfield tomorrow (Saturday) as academic. But Hamilton said: "We want to try and finish on a high note."