HASTINGS & BEXHILL 20 GILLINGHAM ANCHORIANS 30

THE result left little to celebrate - a loss at home with no bonus points. By contrast H&B’s performance against the unbeaten league leaders represented another positive step along the road to becoming a quality side.

Trailing 22-3 little more than quarter way through the game, with one touchline doubter already talking of them being in danger of capitulating, the team fought right back into contention, not only dominating and winning the second half with some dynamic rugby, but only a disallowed try on the final whistle denying them bonus points.

Conditions were perfect - sunny day, a soft breeze in place of the usual gale, well-grassed pitch. Gillingham turned up early, looking purposeful and confident, and when they won a penalty in front of the posts virtually from kick-off, they showed that confidence by spurning the three points and opting to kick for the 5m lineout. Moments later they won a second penalty from a scrum under the posts and this time converted it for an early 3-0 lead.

Already it was clear their pack was going to pose problems for H&B. Their lineout was powerfully efficient, their set scrum the same.

H&B hit straight back with a penalty from Paul Sandeman, but though the home side were scrapping hard for ball, and showing huge and aggressive defence, Gillingham clearly had the upper hand.

An efficient catch and drive from a lineout in H&B’s 22 left H&B’s pack powerless to prevent the touchdown in the corner, well converted for a 3-10 lead. H&B were finding it hard to lay hands on good ball, and a few minutes later Gillingham’s wing ran a try in at the corner, slipping the final tackle, 3-15.

H&B’s front row were having a torrid time of it in the set piece, and the home side were conceding penalties at the breakdown, but Gillingham were using the boot to gain ground, and H&B’s back three dealt well with that tactic, catching confidently and shipping the ball swiftly to their support, then either clearing for touch or setting up a counter-attack.

When H&B won ball, they were running hard and off-loading well, only the odd loose pass spoiling things.

H&B were once again tackling with passion, but occasional missed first up tackles cost them dearly, and when Gillingham moved the ball cleanly down their line, the defence was outnumbered and their wing scooted in for a 3-22 lead.

Most of the first quarter had been played in H&B’s half, but some determined play saw H&B with attacking ball. Good handling was followed by fine close quarters footwork by Matt Harbord leaving H&B with a 5m lineout, followed by a scrum 5m out. Gillingham showed their strength by disrupting the scrum and winning a penalty.

But H&B’s dander was up, and from a penalty in their 22, Kit Claughton took a quick tap, quick hands saw the ball moved wide to Harbord, who scored in the corner, closing the gap to 8-22.

Now it was H&B’s turn to trouble Gillingham, a great backs’ move from H&B’s own half ending 10m shy of the line with a dropped pass. Play went back and forth, both sides looking threatening with ball in hand, and H&B competing fiercely again in the lineout, working hard and effectively at the coal-face, and holding their own in the set scrum. H&B were driving the visitors’ line attacks backwards in the tackle. An excellent break by Ben Campbell ended with a dropped pass and the half-time whistle.

H&B started the second half as they’d finished the first. A strong break from Steve McManus from the base of the scrum, the ball slipped to Piers Claughton, on to Mark Piotrowski. From the ensuing ruck Piers passed quickly to his brother, Kit, who timed a pass to Campbell, now at inside centre, cutting a perfect line in under the posts, converted by Sandeman 15-22.

Gillingham hit straight back with a powerful attack ending in a converted penalty 15-25.

H&B mounted further promising attacks, but an intercepted pass and easy run in down the wing took their lead out to 15-30 with 25 minutes left.

Kit Claughton and Dillon Newell were now making skilfully powerful breaks, the backline were moving the ball well marshalled confidently from half-back, and the pack had impressively fought back to parity, even dominance. Sandeman, Steve McManus and Jimmy Adams were making significant inroads into the defence, and Gillingham’s first half superiority had dissipated. Sandeman almost cut the lead further, but was held up short of the line from a quickly taken tap penalty.

Then a Gillingham back row was dispossessed in the tackle by Piers Claughton at the back of the visitors’ scrum in their 22, Sandeman again brushing defenders aside, fly hacking the ball, and diving on it under the posts, then converting, 20-30 with five minutes left.

Both teams fought for ascendancy in the final minutes, and both Bruce Steadman and Sandeman came within a whisker of touching down, but the final whistle left a slightly relieved Gillingham with the win, their unbeaten record, and all the points.

“We are disappointed to have lost and not to have got the bonus point,” said backs coach Kit Claughton. “We gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb at half-time, which if we want to win games in this league we can't afford to do, especially against classy teams like Anchorians.

“However, it was another decent performance, we defended very well at times, created a lot of scoring opportunities and our forwards are fitter than they have been for a season.

“If we keep training and tweaking aspects of our game, we will win more than we'll lose this season, and more importantly we'll get better as a team”.

H&B: Roche, Umpleby, Spatchurst, Adams, Luff (S McManus), R McManus (Hewitt), Sandeman (c), Piotrowksy, P Claughton, K Claughton, Harbord, Diedericks (Steadman), Newell, Campbell, Waring.