We need to be more clinical urges coach

Smith also praised the team’s resilience, though, after clinching a place in the next round of the RFU Junior Vase with a narrow 21-20 victory away to Crawley last weekend.

“We started strongly and were in their red zone for a good 25 minutes. At the start we did everything we set out to do except score the points,” said Smith.

“One of the good things about the side over the last couple of seasons is the resilience. Even though the players knew they let Crawley back into the game through poor decisions and ill-discipline, they still had enough about them to go in and snatch the victory.”

While the frustrating performance ended in a well-earned victory, Smith knows that H&B can’t afford to waste opportunities when they host struggling Shooters Hill in Kent One tomorrow (Saturday). Kick-off at William Parker is 3pm.

“Shooters Hill isn’t having a very good season, but we know that all sides in Kent One play for the full 80 minutes,” continued Smith. “You can never take anything for granted. I think it’s going to be a tough game and we need to be a little bit more clinical.”

Rye Rugby Club, meanwhile, faces a tough looking trip to second-placed Hove II in Sussex One. The New Roaders will head west, however, buoyed by an encouraging display in an RFU Junior Vase defeat to Kent One leaders Cranbrook last weekend.