‘We must work harder’ says coach

That’s the view of the rugby club’s head coach Kevin Smith as H&B head into the short festive break lying second-bottom of London Three South East after losing at home to rock-bottom Lewes last weekend.

Smith said: “We’re really up against it, there’s no getting away from it. I want to put a favourable spin on it, but you can’t really.

“The players have got to want it and they’re not working hard enough. I don’t know if that’s my fault; maybe I’m not working them hard enough.

“They’re all nice guys, but I feel quite strongly we’re letting ourselves down. We’re not hard enough and we’re not brutal enough. We seem to think we’ve got plenty of time, but we haven’t.”

H&B have won one, drawn one and lost 10 of their opening 12 league fixtures, and having been unbeaten at home in Kent One throughout last season, they’ve yet to win on their own ground this term.

“We’re not playing well; our position in the league tells you that,” added Smith. “I hope we can do something about it. The next half of the season needs to be far, far better. Have a bit of pride and play some rugby.”

H&B’s next two games are both against Heathfield & Waldron. The first of them is a Sussex Cup match at William Parker on Saturday January 3.