Key weekend for rugby club

H&B will travel to King’s College Hospital in Kent One tomorrow (Saturday) before visiting Hellingly in a Sussex Shield semi-final on Sunday.

“It’s a massive weekend,” said head coach Kevin Smith. “It (playing two games in two days) can be difficult, but it’s a sport you love and you should want to get out there and do it.

“I’m sure there will be some tired limbs, but I’ve got a good squad of players to choose from and I will re-evaluate after the game on Saturday. I’m confident that we’ll do well.”

Last weekend’s narrow victory away to HSBC has lifted H&B up to second in the league - a point ahead of third-placed Beccehamian having played an extra game - and if they remain there at the end of the season, they will go into a promotion play-off against the runners-up in Sussex One.

King’s are four places and six points worse off than H&B, and were beaten 27-8 in October’s reverse fixture having been undefeated beforehand.

Hellingly, meanwhile, are third in the Sussex Intermediate League with games in hand on the top two. H&B won the Sussex Shield last season and could face neighbours Rye in this year’s final.