Hastings & Bexhill 39 Old Gravesendians 10

THE final friendly before H&B begin their Sussex One league campaign was billed as a trial match, but with so many potential or recent first teamers injured, unfit, unavailable or vanished from the scene it was instead a chance for those left standing to show what they could do.

And, after their now customary dozy start, this they did in a promising final 40 minutes against a Kent side relegated with them from London Three last season.

With half a dozen props and nine backs out of the equation at a rough count, new coach Scott Ashby gave debuts to two young threequarters, Chris Stern and Ollie Smith, and promoted lock Rod Luff and prop John-Jo Dawes from the Twos, while H&B’s sole new (returning) signing on show Allister Coombe, who spent last season in Sussex One with Worthing Threes, played at fullback.

Early signs were that this makeshift side, as in recent seasons, would struggle to play as a unit. An unclaimed ball from OG’s kick-off led to a penalty attempt at goal by the visitors, fortunately missed, and although H&B swiftly began to move the ball quite well in the backs, and the forwards punched it up the middle convincingly, the familiar combination of dropped final passes and indiscipline at the break-down, sabotaged fluency.

OGs looked sharp with ball in hand, and H&B defensive organisation was tested - sometimes to stretching point - but held out thanks to individual efforts by the usual suspects. H&B were winning their lineouts and set scrums and moving the ball with swift precision from the set-piece - with no little thanks to the return from long-term injury of Steve McManus at number 8. But it was a steppy break-out from his 22 by Coombe which set off a fluent move, ending in a debut try for Stern, converted by Coombe, for a 7-0 lead.

Moments later, another flowing movement featuring well-used support play ended with Jimmy Adams being dragged down just short of the line.

After a short break, the second quarter saw a well-executed break-out try from his own line by OG’s quick wing, who flummoxed H&B’s defence with a kick ahead and a series of fly hacks to close the gap to 7-5.

The second half saw H&B beginning to gell as a team, while OGs young side began to tire on the hard ground. Coombe saw a penalty attempt bounce off the post, then an OG break off the back of a scrum and a grubber kick witnessed a slapstick moment behind the posts with two H&B defenders missing the chance to touch down and trying wildly to hack the ball into touch, leaving the OG’s player to score the try.

With OG’s leading 10-7, H&B found another gear. A break by Kit Claughton put McManus away for a try, with Coombe foiled by a post again with his conversion attempt.

Jake Stinson scored a sparkling individual try from his own 22, this time well converted by Coombe.

Then Piers and Kit Claughton combined for a blindside break that set Ashley Diedericks tearing down the wing and throwing in a heart-stopping juggle of the ball, for a further, unconverted, touchdown.

Anthony Roche dived over from a maul following a good carry by Sealy.

H&B continued to dominate with some good, flowing play and effective driving runs by the forwards - a 22 break-out by hard-running Paul Sandeman, scored dynamically by Roger Roberts, and finally the pack pushed over, Jason Holewell touching down for a satisfying 39-10 win. If H&B were starting the season still in London Four there would be cause for concern. As usual they have lost more first squad players than they have managed to recruit, and once again they have failed to grasp what similar-sized clubs who have succeeded in the London leagues realised long ago - the necessity to invite young overseas players for a season to add fresh blood and impetus.

As a result, the frailties when stretched in defence, the handling uncertainties, and lack of corporate sharpness at the breakdown remain like a hangover headache from last season.

But on this showing, against admittedly fragile opposition, they displayed solid set-piece work, the ambition to keep the ball alive and play supportive running rugby, and some promising individual skills and determination, both from the handful of ageing players who have led from the front for many seasons now, and from some of the younger newcomers, whose time may be about to come.

H&B: Adams, K Claughton, P Claughton, Coombe, Davies, Dawes, Diedericks, Holewell, Lee, Luft, A Mahoney, S McManus, Roberts (c), Roche, Sandeman, Sealy, Smith, Stern, Stinson.