H&B hit by Claughtons' absence
Hastings & Bexhill captain Roger Roberts believes the rugby club has taken two steps forward and one back.
The optimism built up by the 17-17 draw at Horsham three weeks ago was diluted somewhat by a 53-3 reverse at Folkestone last weekend.
Roberts said: "We've taken two steps forward and one step back. I don't think we played as badly as we maybe thought. In the first half we had 80 per cent of the pressure and territory, but couldn't come away with any points and it cost us late on in the game."
If H&B are to bounce back, they'll have to do it the hard way because they travel to Charlton Park in a second-top versus second-bottom London Three South East clash tomorrow (Saturday).
"I think confidence has taken a knock," Roberts continued, "but the only way we can solve that is by getting straight back into it.
"It's going to be quite a big test, but I think we'll do alright. I want to go down there and upset a few people. Maybe a team will underestimate us too much and maybe we will put a surprise on them."
H&B's task will be made all the more difficult by the fact that they'll be without influential half backs Kit and Piers Claughton. Kit's knee needs more recuperative work and Piers is working.
On the plus side, George Cullingford and Anthony Roche should be available for the journey to Kidbrook in South London, while Matt O'Connor might feature as well.
Roberts added: "We've just got to go there with the right heads. If we go there feeling a bit down on our luck, we're not going to do well. But if we go there with an open mind, anything can happen."
Elsewhere, Rye Rugby Club has an opportunity to give its Sussex Division One survival prospects another boost tomorrow.
The New Roaders will be gunning to chalk up back-to-back victories when they travel to Lewes II in a third-from-bottom versus bottom clash.
Manager Tony Pierce said: "On form it looks like a very winnable game. Confidence is quite high and if we can get a result over at Lewes that would be ideal."
Rye are still very much on a high from recording their first win of the season two weeks ago when they sunk second-from-bottom Seaford in horrendous conditions.
That success wiped out their two-point deduction for failing to field a full XV against Haywards Heath III and put them within sight of the teams immediately above them.
In fact, two points tomorrow would take Rye off the foot of the standings on points difference assuming that Seaford are beaten at home to fifth-placed Hove II.
Lewes have won one, drawn one and lost five of their seven league matches to date, and possess a worse points difference than a Rye outfit which has suffered several narrow defeats.
Key player Jamie Moore hopes to shake off a sprained ankle to take his place, while Ben Sinclair is well on the road to recovery from a finger he dislocated quite badly.
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Weather for Hastings
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
