Routine win puts H&B second

H&B hit the ground running, a powerful drive from a lineout leading to Ben Campbell finishing strongly for a 5-0 lead. Moments later Mark Piotrowski scored in the same corner after HSBC bodged their restart.

Sandeman kicked a penalty; Steve McManus dived over for a 20-0 lead from a Campbell chip. In the second half, Kit Claughton twice crossed the line but was held up, Campbell scoring the bonus try in the corner, 27-0.

Classic H&B running and interpassing was rewarded with a Sandeman score from a penalty, 34-0. The skipper scored and converted a second try from a tapped penalty on the 5m line.

HSBC had the final word from a penalty, outnumbering H&B’s hitherto impenetrable defence for a deserved try in the corner.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Rye RFC suffered its first defeat of the Sussex One season with a 49-19 loss away to Chichester III. Full reports will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played-points) - Kent One: 1 King’s College Hospital 7-22, 2 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 6-21, 3 Dartfordians 7-20, 4 Cranbrook 6-20, 5 Shooters Hill 6-19, 6 Sittingbourne 6-18, 7 Old Gravesendians 6-16, 8 Beccehamian 6-13, 9 HSBC 6-10, 10 Southwark Lancers 7-7, 11 Whitstable 7-5.

Sussex One: 1 Burgess Hill 7-32, 2 Eastbourne 7-28, 3 RYE 7-26, 4 Chichester III 7-25, 5 Seaford 7-19, 6 Holbrook 7-17, 7 Brighton II 7-12, 8 Lewes II 7-10, 9 Haywards Heath II 5-6, 10 Newick 7-6, 11 Hove III 6-5, 12 Midhurst 6-3.