Hastings & Bexhill 69 Helstorm 0

H&B U13 took confidence gained from the previous week’s victory into their first home league fixture against Helstorm, a newly formed team at this age group, combining the players from Seaford and Hellingly. On a gloriously sunny morning H&B chose to receive the kick off, despite not catching cleanly the forwards soon started to move the ball up field through a series of strong runs off ruck ball, Matt Coyle to the fore leading to a pop pass out to second row Andy Paige who ran in unopposed for the first score. Paige soon followed this up with his second following a drive to the line and set up by prop Jack Marchant-Hall.

The back row then took over the scoring duties, with George Upton, Coyle and No. 8 Tommy Gooch each running in well worked tries. Gooch’s try coming from a pick up at the back of a scrum 15m out, and a dart under the posts. Mitch Dennis converting two kicks made the half time score 29-0 to the home team.

With a healthy lead and fresh impetus from replacements off the bench, including Alex Mortimer-Harvey making his first appearance of the season following shoulder injury, the home side began to open up the play and give their exciting backs plenty of ball to show some free flowing moves. Winger Jamie Barker opened the scoring after the break, finishing off a move down the back line, with a 40m dash to the line, out running the Helstorm cover defence. Fly half Dennis then ran in from his own 10m with a show and go to his opposite number opening a gap for a sprint under the posts.

Further tries followed from centre Leon Driver, winger Joe Whitehill-James and a second for Dennis, each from ball won by the forwards and fed to the backs by scrum half Joe Nicholls and Charlie Farrant joining in from full back. The best was saved for last when Dennis completed his hat trick with a solo effort from his own 22m. Dennis also converted a further two kicks making the final score 63-0.

Special thanks to Louis Squire who kindly agreed to play for Helstorm following an injury to their prop mid way through the first half.

Strong performances came from Barker, who made several fine runs, Spenser Smart for his all round game at hooker and later replacing Gooch at No.8, and Man of the Match Dennis for his marshalling of the game.

Great credit should be given to Helstorm for their display and willingness to keep going to the end. This game should give the team good heart for stronger battles to come, although playing on the larger first team pitch for the first time, they were able to keep their shape well and spread the ball across the pitch in some well developed moves. They will need to keep this improvement going in order to strongly challenge later in the season.

Next game Sunday 27th November at home versus Brighton ‘B’ (KO 11am)