Sittingbourne 20 Hastings & Bexhill 5

THE hangover from the previous weekend’s draining two match heroics was evident on Saturday as the side produced their least impressive performance this season.

Although Sittingbourne’s powerful pack and relentlessly dogged defence put them in the driving seat for the first 20 minutes of each half, and H&B’s fast-developing backline had to live off scraps, the visitors made plenty of opportunities for themselves in the second and last quarters. But again and again H&B’s poor handling and running lines, and lack of effective commitment at the breakdown - coupled with their hosts’ defensive determination, let a determined Sittingbourne side off the hook whenever their line was under threat.

A whistle-happy referee helped spoil an untidy game - Sittingbourne contributing their share of spilled ball and wild passes - but H&B didn’t need much outside help. Trailing by an unconverted try at halftime, they had only a well-taken debut try by Buckswood schoolboy Calvin Crosby-Clarke to show for all their pressure in the last 20 minutes of the game - and even then, they immediately succumbed to a breakaway individual try against the run of play.

Missing Piers Claughton and Jimmy Adams, H&B gave Percy Fitzgerald his first team debut at scrum half, with Mark Piotrowski in the second row. Late unavailabilities left them with just two of their three allowed bench players.

From the kick off in bright sunshine, H&B looked jaded. Playing in short stops and starts thanks to their own mistakes and a punctilious referee, they had plenty of notice early on that they were going to be pushed around in the scrum, harassed at the lineout, penalised at the breakdown and turned over in the tackle.

Sittingbourne’s opening try after just five minutes was the result of their scrum’s powerful drive towards H&B’s line, followed by hands in the backs, and the host’s fast wing scoring in the corner. That Sittingbourne couldn’t follow this early dominance up with anything more in the first half was largely due to some aggressive defence from H&B, who despite conceding endless penalties and putting down passes, were in their hosts’ faces throughout.

Sittingbourne’s big, dangerous centre, and strong veteran flanker both posed threats - the former breaking right to the tryline before being tackled and dispossessed by the chasing Kit Claughton. H&B’s most potent threats were the power of Steve McManus, working tirelessly off the back of the scrum, and repeated forays from the threequarters, whose finishing was for once spoiled by clumsy handling.

The visitors ended the half looking as if the game was within their grasp, if only they could be more clinical.

Sittingbourne came out revitalised for the second half, winning a penalty near H&B’s posts, converted for an 8-0 lead.

H&B missed a kick at goal, then gave away a series of penalties in their own 22, two goalkicks missed by their hosts, a third kicked to the corner, where from their lineout a prop charged through H&B for a converted try, 15-0, with half an hour left.

For the rest of the game against a tiring but still dangerous Sittingbourne, H&B had plenty of opportunities to score. A characteristic Paul Sandeman burst through the hosts’ pack broke down with the line beckoning when a long pass didn’t find his support. Good hands led to Tom Waring breaking strongly down the right wing, getting close to the line before being dispossessed in the tackle. Crosby-Clarke made a similar promising run down the left wing, tackled into touch five metres out. A desperate tryline clearance kick was charged down by Joe Umpleby. H&B crossed the tryline but touch was given.

And so chances went begging until quick hands down the line saw Crosby-Clarke’s well-taken touchdown in the corner, unconverted, 15-5.

With minutes left, H&B continued to pressure Sittingbourne’s line, but a turnover saw their wing emerge with the ball, and with no-one at home for H&B, shoot down the touchline to seal a deserved 20-5 victory.

"The disappointing thing for us, is we played poorly, our handling was poor, we got dispossessed and we were clumsy. This weeks' training turnout has been poor and match preparation was also poor.

“We took a big step backwards today from the standards we've been setting ourselves,” said backs coach Kit Claughton. “We're not good enough not to train, then turn up to good teams and expect to chuck the ball around and win.

“Hopefully we have learnt lessons and will prepare ourselves for Whitstable, a team who has a good record against us.

“Today was a bit of a reality check, and one that I don't think anyone enjoyed."

H&B: Spatchurst, Umpleby, Roche, Luff, Piotrowski, Sandeman, S McManus, Holewell (Roberts), Fitzgerald, K Claughton, Harbord, Campbell, Newell, Waring, Steadman (Crosby-Clarke).

Report by RussC