Hastings and Bexhill Rugby Club discover their final league placing - and say: Bring on next season

In common with all sporting and social activities Hastings and Bexhill’s season has been truncated because of the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, the RFU compiled final position league tables for all senior rugby to enable promotion and relegation to take place.

They based their calculation on the number of average points scored in completed matches up to and including March 16.

H&B club secretary Mick Ellis issued astatement on behalf of the club.

“As a club we understand the recommendations are made in the interests of the game and the approach has been fully ratified,” he said.

“These decisions made by the RFU have been difficult to make in the most unprecedented of circumstances. There is clearly no solution that will suit every club; but the approach taken by the RFU is one that we believe best reflects the nature of rugby and we are settled with the outcome.”

“To finish fourth in Kent Division 1 mirrors the season’s performance; which to say the least has been somewhat erratic. The main reason for this inconsistency, is player availability because of injury and work commitments.

“During the season the 1st XV have used over 30 players and to develop the flowing and attacking rugby the club wishes to play has been exceedingly difficult at times.

“The home semi-final of the Kent Vase versus Kings College Hospital was the first to be postponed because of the coronavirus restrictions.

“This was a game that could easily have been won and an appearance in the final on April 26 would have been a fitting end to the season.

“As a whole the club have had a very good season with many successful events and activities completed. The mini and junior sections continue to thrive and produce many players for the club’s senior sides. The festival of mini rugby held on October 6, 2019 was once again a great success with over 700 children participating; some from as far away as the Channel Islands!”

The youngest squad at the club are the under-sevens, pictured above with club president Roy Wake, himself a former junior player and 1st XV player for many years. They are coached by recent 1st XV stalwart Ben Campbell assisted by George Cullingford, another senior player for many years.

The other photograph above is of the point scorers in the 44-0 victory over New Ash Green RFC in January.

They are captain Bruce Steadman, who started in the junior teams, Frazer McManus, son of former skipper Steve McManus, who started as a mini, newcomers Archie Ridpath and Connor Shaw, former mini Tim Sills, who has been top try scorer for the previous three seasons, and Calvin Crosby-Clarke, who came to junior rugby from Buckswood School.

Hastings and Bexhill are essentially a family club with members aged six to 90 and centre all their activities around these people, the vast majority of whom live within seven miles of the Ark Alexandra Clubhouse and ground.

The club raise money for charity and support local activities including the Hastings Half Marathon and Carnival Week.

During the lockdown the club are keeping in touch through social media and organising online activities including ‘converting the toilet roll’ and virtual training sessions for the mini section on Sunday mornings.

They are all itching to get back for the 2020’21 season, which as things stand is due to start in September.