HASTINGS & BEXHILL 29   OLD GRAVESENDIANS 19

TWO weeks ago H&B gave away more penalties than a crazed parking meter and won the game. Last week their penalty count was exemplary and they lost both the battle upfront and the match. On Saturday they returned to winning ways - and to giving away soft penalties as if they were a lost leader, three of their players spending time in the sinbin.

Finding the fine line between aggression and ill-discipline will be one of coach Kevin Smith’s priorities in coming weeks, but Saturday’s performance offered substantial encouragement that it will be a worthwhile task.

Among H&B’s achievements were some sparkling first half moments of great support play, handling and - missing for so long - incisive strike running, as well as a vastly improved defensive performance from forwards and backs. There was also increased urgency and venom at the breakdown that dumped their visitors firmly on the back foot.

In a dramatically different second half - which they lost on the scoreboard and on the pitch - their glut of yellow cards (variously for a late tackle, an accidental high tackle, and a retaliatory fist) seemed to drain the team of their first half’s psychological dominance. This, and some fitness issues, allowed Gravesendians to build their own confidence and play their own game; which they did, mostly in H&B’s 22 thanks to a slew of penalties. But to their immense credit and not for the first time this season, H&B’s defensive determination held out against a relentless onslaught, breached only twice in 35 minutes.

And remarkably, it was H&B who then finished the game as they began it, finally succeeding in breaking out of their positional straightjacket and using their brief moments of possession to create a skilfully executed try to seal the bonus win and keep their home record intact.

In hot sunshine, H&B showed real intent from the start. The front five were picking and driving powerfully and aggressive in the close quarters tackling, putting OGs on the back foot. The back row worked hard and harried OGs mercilessly. As a result, despite their scrum not operating as well as they might have hoped, the pack were able to provide good ball for the halfbacks to set up effective attacks.

A well-judged chip by Kit Claughton, back at stand-off, led to two good phases by H&B and a scrum under OG’s posts - spoilt by conceding a penalty for the early hit.

H&B were working well at the lineout, and from one on OG’s 22, a break-out saw some beautiful hands by the backline, Lewis Sealy linking with Ash Diedericks for the latter to cruise in to open H&B’s account 5-0.

The game was being played mostly between the 22s, OGs competing hard in the forwards, with their quality inside centre and strong fullback posing attacking threats, well snuffed-out by H&B’s sharp tackling, Jimmy Adams and Dillon Newell both making notable big hits.

Halfway through the half, OG’s missed a penalty opportunity from a late tackle. H&B came back with a superb score, Tony Roche and Tom Spatchurst both driving the ball through OG’s pack, for Adams to make a rangy break and time a perfect pass to the well-supporting Matt Harbord, who neatly stepped the defence and cut a lovely line to hare in for a 10-0 lead.

OG’s were quick to respond, a well-supported break catching out the defence, and two wrong-footed tacklers letting in a try, 10-5.

A rampaging break by hard-working skipper Paul Sandeman, followed by top-class off-loading from the backline, saw on-form Diedericks in for his second try, converted by Sandeman 17-5.

Then Harbord fielded a clearance kick, broke and passed to Ben Campbell who made further ground before shipping the ball to Newell, whose great footwork foiled the defence for a touchdown, conversion, and 24-5 lead on the halftime whistle.

In the second half Tom Waring, on for the injured Sealy, was catching every OG kick with assurance, and returning them with interest or running the ball back strongly, and from one such attack, H&B mauled the ball powerfully from a lineout, only to turn it over at the death.

But with H&B down to 14 men, OG’s 12 broke a tackle and touched down under the posts to close the score to 24-12, and that triggered a half-hour lapse in H&B’s dominance and concentration.

While they defended manfully, the home side were unable to escape the claustrophobia of their own lines, giving away penalties every time they started to break out. Brave tackling kept OG’s from scoring for an exhausting quarter of an hour, until one too many penalties led to a penalty try under the posts, cutting the lead to 24-19.

Then, restored at last to a full 15 men, H&B suddenly rediscovered their reinvigorated mojo. A series of strong, direct pick and drives and some assured handling took H&B deep inside OG’s 22. Piers Claughton broke through the defence, and a classy backhand pass to Jason Holewell saw the latter power through the remaining defence for a final score in the corner, 29-19.

"We worked hard to correct the mistakes from last week,” said backs coach Kit Claughton, “and certainly the first half, we played with pace and aggression. The forwards were dynamic producing quick ball. But, once again, we gave away far too many penalties and OGs showed that with possession and time they're a good team.

“If we can cut out our penalties and remain organised in defence, we'll do very well in this league, but if don't, we'll struggle.

“October is a big month for us, with a number of difficult games - we'll have a clearer idea of where we are at the end of it."

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

Report by RussC