Fixtures piling up for H & B

Observer Article 15/1/10 (Courtesy of Hastings Observer)

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club is facing a punishing second half of the season after its latest postponement on Saturday.

The London 3 South East relegation battle at home to Whitstable inevitably fell victim to the big freeze, becoming the second cancellation in H&B's last three matches.

They now have fixtures for the next eight weekends and only two spare saturdays (March 13 and April 3) between now and the season's end on April 10.

That is not including a Sussex Trophy first round tie at home to London 2 South West outfit Bognor which was due to have been played by November 21.

H&B Captain Roger Roberts said: "With our record with injuries it's a bit of a worry, but this season seems to have been better now that we have a club physio.

"It's more important than ever trying to keep everyone fit. We need everyone there fit and champing at the bit."

The hectic schedule is due to begin tomorrow (Saturday) with a trip to Crowborough assuming an area hit particularly badly by the snow thaws out in time.

H&B are second-bottom of the table having lost nine of their first eleven league games, while Crowborough are seventh having won four and drawn one of their 11 contests to date.

Although comfortably beaten 46 - 12 in the reverse fixture on October 10, H&B have the advantage of having played on January 2 whereas Crowborough's last outing was back on December 12.