HASTINGS & BEXHILL 48 NEW ASH GREEN 19

THE differences between Saturday’s ultimately overwhelming win against struggling New Ash Green and the previous week’s disappointing loss at Cranbrook were small but vital - a reminder of how thin the line can be between triumph and disaster in sport.

A calm and sunny day compared to the previous week’s slippery conditions allowed H&B to hang onto the ball, and the opposition’s defence was neither as fierce nor as offside as Cranbrook’s had been: as a result, H&B’s confidence in their own running and handling abilities blossomed as the game went on, and bore fruit in the form of seven tries, a bonus point, and glimpses of just how potent an attacking force the enthusiastic young backline is beginning to develop into.

Not that H&B had their own way for the first quarter of the game, when their confident attacking start and assured handling were undermined by a turnover, a couple of inaccurate kicks and some early penalties, to give the visitors a chance to pin H&B in the corner.

Though NAG missed a penalty kick, they followed up with a well-chased crossfield kick, H&B’s defence beaten to the touchdown, to concede a 7-0 lead.

H&B looked the more creative and dangerous in attack, and an interception by Dillon Newell came close to scoring, but turnovers and penalties continued to blight the home side.

NAG’s experienced pack was a handful in the set scrum and held their own in the lineout, with a couple of big ball-carriers and attacking kicks being their most effective weapons.

The breakdown area is a work in progress for H&B. They compete far better than in the past, but against the more streetwise packs of the Kent league they sometimes struggle to create quick, controlled ball, while still ending up too often with referees on their case.

Nonetheless H&B looked the better side, and some decisive ball-carrying by Jimmy Adams and Steve McManus - who, with skipper Paul Sandeman, led the physical challenge of H&B’s pack in attack and defence - set off an H&B assault. Good ball down the line, then Joe Umpleby made more ground, for Ash Diedericks to batter his way over under the posts, Sandeman converting to level the scores.

Penalties at the breakdown continued to hound H&B, and allowed NAG to keep them trapped in their half. H&B showed their usual dogged last-ditch defence and kept them out until Sandeman was harshly yellow-carded, and NAG took advantage with a pushover try to regain the lead, 7-14.

But while NAG could make little impact with ball in hand other than through penalties, H&B‘s ball-handling was looking better by the minute, the backline running great lines, with well-judged use of copious support runners. Matt Harbord came close to scoring on the end of a break by the centres; Bruce Steadman joined the line in another opportunity from a Kit Claughton break. Then Piers Claughton prised open the defence and broke for the line with Harbord outside him, the latter racing in under the posts, Sandeman converting to level the score once more.

A steal by Adams, breaks by Kit Claughton and Sandeman, timed passes by Newell and Ben Campbell, and finally Harbord - who’s been displaying class and leadership this season - showed footwork to scoot in for his second try, again converted by Sandeman for a 21-14 half-time lead.

In the second half, H&B’s greater fitness began to tell, they began to dominate set pieces and learn the referee’s foibles, while their backline’s line breaks, backing up and covering, and passing the ball out of the tackle, started to pay serious dividends.

Sandeman kicked a penalty moments into the half, then a length-of-the-field break by Campbell - back to his dynamic best - saw Steadman stand strong in the tackle and be driven over the line by great support play, for the bonus point and a 31-14 lead.

NAG were not finished yet, and it took strong defence from Campbell and Tom Waring to hold out a powerful no 8 break.

From a decisive H&B lineout, Newell carried, Diedericks shimmied past a tackler, for Campbell to rip through defenders, 36-14.

NAG hit back, and a penalty followed by a free kick in H&B’s 22 gave them a chance to show good hands and beat the defence to run in their third try in the corner, 36-19.

H&B responded by upping their game again, with more flowing backs moves and forwards‘ physicality at the ruck. Kit Claughton crossed the line but was adjudged held up. From the resultant scrum five, H&B’s pack imperiously rumbled their opponents over the line for Steve McManus to emerge holding the ball.

A further Kit Claughton break saw Tony Roche carry the ball, shift it to Campbell, the latter tackled into touch close to the line.

A harmless scuffle resulted in Waring and a NAG wing rather ridiculously yellow carded.

Kit Claughton took advantage of the extra space to exploit a dogleg in the NAG line, step and run in under the posts for a final score, 48-19.

“The difference between our performance last week and this week wasn't that much, we just managed to retain ball better - something we've been working on this week,” said backs coach Kit Claughton.

“I feel this team has the potential to be one of the best the club has produced; we have dynamic ball-handling forwards, creative and quick backs, we want to play 15 man rugby, and most importantly, we want to get better.

“We (as players) are our harshest critics. Saturday was good, but we are aware if we want to climb up the table and win away from home, our defence has to be hungrier and we still need to improve our ball retention.”

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

Report by RussC