Big improvement needed by H&B

The rugby club will be eager to put things right at home to Whitstable in Kent One tomorrow (Saturday) after the 20-5 loss at Sittingbourne last weekend.

Head coach Kevin Smith said: “It was the most disappointing performance by a long way. We just really weren’t at the races and I would’ve expected any team in the league to have beaten us.

“But if there’s a little spark of positive it’s that all the players knew that wasn’t good enough and we need to do better. I expect their pride will be dented by that and I expect a win on Saturday.”

William Parker Sports College-based H&B have lost their last three league games (the previous two were against the top two teams), but their next three league fixtures are all against sides in the bottom five.

“I’ve got every confidence in the players by their reaction after the game,” added Smith. “I just want a statement of commitment, going out there and really putting a marker on the opposition.” Kick-off is 3pm.

Rye Rugby Club, meanwhile, will return to Sussex One action following a three-week lay-off with a trip to Newick tomorrow.

Their chairman Tony Pierce said: “Without any doubt we can go up there and beat them. There’s no team in the league that we really think we can’t go there and win. We’re quite bullish.”