Hove 10 Hastings and Bexhill 49

The key decision for H&B turned out to be the choice of stand in skipper Andy Dalton to play uphill in the first half.

H&B struggled to get any pattern of play in the first ten minutes of the game and failed to move the ball past their own 22 metre line. Hove tried their best to score in this period of pressure but strong defence from centre Kevin Rushton kept the attacks under control until fly half Percy Fitzgerald was able to release the pressure with a series of kicks pushing the home side back into their own half.
After 20 minutes it looked like H&B were about to break the hold on the game but despite a penalty kick by Percy Fitzgerald and a try in the corner through Andy Dalton after a quick penalty and drive by man of the match prop Jacob Macdonough H&B failed to capitalise.

Hove took the advantage of the slope again and secured a penalty under the posts after the H&B backs had infringed the offside line.

Coach Gary Walsh asked for a change in tactics and more commitment in the second half and this approach worked immediately with pressure on the Hove back line resulting in a kick ahead and rush to the line by Kevin Rushton to secure an early second half try.

Changes in the H&B line up were made with Chris Jarvis and debutant Phil Bailey being replaced by Nick Edmunds, returning after injury, and wing debutant Jake Obrien.
H&B then started to use the slope and wind to their advantage and, playing more aggressive and confident rugby, they began to open up the Hove defence leading to a decision to take a scrum instead of a penalty kick close the Hove line. Number 8 Aidey Mahoney drove over from 10 metres to score a try.

H&B then opened up feeling more confident in their passing they released the backs who had been stifled of ball in the first half and supported by the forwards tries came from open play for Jacob Macdonough, Kevin Rushton and fellow centre Peter Eames after beating five defenders from the half way line.
Hove did press the H&B line at times and after a mistake in the midfield the Hove centre picked up the loose ball to run through unopposed to score a try under the posts.

This was the only lapse in the H&B performance in the second half as they dominated the possession.

Late tries by Jake Obrien, Dom Sewell and scrum half Berwick Smith secured an excellent win away from home.