Hastings & Bexhill 32 Helstorm 26

The third league encounter of the season proved to be a walkover for H&B, with Helstorm unable to field more than ten players. The coaches agreed to lend the opposition five players and enjoy a ‘friendly’ match. 
 
Looking at the visitors it was apparent that, like Uckfield, they had recruited a ‘physically gifted’ player, this time in the centre. His first act was to charge into H&B’s powerful prop, Charlie Wells, who had caught the kick off. With no real attempt to use his arms in this ‘tackle’ he smashed Charlie to the ground, cracking his rib and chipping his collarbone. His second act was to charge through the frail defence to score under the posts on four minutes, a spectacle he repeated on twelve minutes.

With two easy conversions, Helstorm were fourteen points clear in as many minutes. H&B regained their composure and dominated the rest of the half with far superior teamwork and multi phase play. Winger and subsequently, man of the match Russell Reid, who tackled hard and won possession and yardage throughout the game, finished off another swift backs move in the corner.

H&B were rarely out of the opposition half and should have scored three tries from possession five metres out, opting to try and force the ball over rather than exploit gaps with players running good angles from depth. Twice fly half Dan Evans flew, Icarus-like, at the gold of the Helstorm defence, only to have his wings stripped and come crashing down to earth. H&B’s forwards finally forced the ball in goal with Jack Mather getting just reward for his endeavours at open side.
 
The second half was similarly dominated by H&B, who allowed the Helstorm danger man only one more score before being nullified by courageous tackling. A five-metre penalty was finished clinically by excellent centre Adam Baker, who went on to score under the posts from another good ball supplied by talented half-backs, Will Edwards and Dan Evans. He could have had a hat trick, losing control of the ball in-goal under a saving tackle. Number eight, Sam Clark had, meanwhile, driven over from short range, shortly before joining the opposition as a centre.
 
Helstorm were given little in attack, save for a fortunate breakaway try from a loose pass. Russell Reid finishing the scoring, as he’d opened it, diving over at the corner, to round off a superb performance for him and the team, particularly those who had sportingly played for the opposition

Adam Baker drives for the line

Cameron Hughes outpacing the opposition

H&B Backs stretch the defence

Laurence Maynard crosses the gain line

Will Edwards and Jack Mather double up on the danger man