H&B win top two clash to clinch title

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club has been crowned Kent One champions with two games to spare.
Action from Hastings & Bexhill's narrow victory over OId Williamsonians. Pictures courtesy Karen WalkerAction from Hastings & Bexhill's narrow victory over OId Williamsonians. Pictures courtesy Karen Walker
Action from Hastings & Bexhill's narrow victory over OId Williamsonians. Pictures courtesy Karen Walker

Long-time leaders H&B clinched the title after a hard-fought 20-17 win at home to second-placed Old Williamsonians on Saturday.

With a gale force wind blowing across the pitch, kicking became something of a lottery as two teams unbeaten in league matches since the turn of the year went head-to-head.

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H&B were soon in control, with Tim Sills opening the scoring after only three minutes. The H&B pack put the visitors under pressure and fed the ball to Kit Claughton, who put flying winger Sills away with a defence-splitting pass.

Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.
Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.

Both teams were playing at the top of their game. Williamsonians’ backs were strong and penetrative, and their forwards matched the home pack. The tackles and midfield hits from both sides were enormous.

Williamsonians came back with a well-struck penalty, but Sills then scored his second try. Tom Waring made good ground before passing to skipper Jimmy Adams and he fed Sills, who danced through the defence at great pace.

Full-back Harry Walker made one of his trademark breaks, leaving the Williamsonians midfield in his wake and releasing Sills for a first half hat-trick. H&B led 15-3 at the interval.

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Now playing with the wind in their favour, Williamsonians started the second half by seriously testing the H&B defence.

Bruce Steadman leads the H&B charge.Bruce Steadman leads the H&B charge.
Bruce Steadman leads the H&B charge.

Scrum-half Eliot Parry stretched H&B’s lead, however, by finishing a move he started deep inside his own half for the bonus point fourth try.

Parry passed the ball out to Bruce Steadman, who made a decisive inside break and set Waring away. As he was tackled, Parry was on hand to receive the ball and cross the whitewash for a well-worked team try.

H&B’s pack was being severely tested by the Williamsonians forwards. As the home defence was clearing its lines, the visiting fly-half made an opportunistic interception to run in a converted try under the posts, 20-10.

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The bruising encounter continued as Parry sustained a nasty cut to his hand. He left the field for an emergency repair from physio Jen Furey and came back with the hand heavily strapped, but went to hospital for stitches as soon as the game finished.

H&B skipper Jimmy Adams puts boot to ball.H&B skipper Jimmy Adams puts boot to ball.
H&B skipper Jimmy Adams puts boot to ball.

Williamsonians mounted attack after attack and eventually the home defence succumbed, H&B’s lead now reduced to three points.

The remaining minutes were very tense and nervous for the home supporters. In the dying seconds the referee awarded H&B a free kick almost under their own posts; the ball was passed to Claughton, who hoofed the ball off the pitch to seal the hardest-fought victory of the season.

H&B: Roche, Umpleby, S. McManus, Adams (c), Crosby-Clarke (Hanagarth 60), Stern, F. McManus, Piotrowski, Parry, Steadman, Stinson (Campbell 60), Claughton (Ackerley 60), Waring, Sills, Walker.

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Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.
Kent One's top two scrap for possession at Ark William Parker Academy on Saturday.

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