H&B open league season with spirited display

The previous week's trial game loss at Hove from the league above was also put into perspective as Horsham, who beat H&B to the league championship and promotion last season, had 57 points posted past them in the league by Hove. On a hot, sunny day at William Parker, H&B celebrated 10 years playing at the ground with a gutsy, committed performance against a skillful Crowborough side who threw everything at them from the first whistle. Forced by injury and unavailability to field a much-changed backline for the third successive game, H&B's strength in depth paid off, as the new line up's defensive aggression snuffed out every attack by their ambitious visitors. Ferocious tackling by the midfield trio, scrum half and back row thwarted Crowborough's attempts to use key players to drive through the middle from their dominant first half possession, and they were forced into a wider game. But they were no more successful wide out against a good scrambling defence, and with H&B's pack mauling powerfully and much-improved at the breakdowns, the home side turned over enough ball to pose a constant threat to Crowborough's line, with H&B moving the ball well and offloading before contact in open play. Crowborough themselves showed determined defence, and with both sides' hard-running attacks suffering from early season handling errors, only a pair of penalty goals from Paul Sandeman split the teams at half time. The second half was a different story, with H&B's line-out finally clicking and the team growing in assurance and winning more set-piece ball, as Crowborough's confidence dwindled. A further penalty goal from Sandeman early in the half was followed by a trademark forwards try in H&B's past tradition - an athletic line-out catch, then a rumbling drive from 15 metres out for a push-over touchdown. Dave Milham chased up a kick and controlled the ball well to score the final try, converted by Neil Redman for an 18-0 win. "At the start of the season we talked about showing aggression in defence, and that's just what the whole team did," said captain Kit Claughton. "It was a committed team performance - I think all the players enjoyed the game." Head coach Roger Stanley was particularly pleased that the team's performance got better as the game went on, and that areas worked on in training, such as rucking and recycling, showed real improvement. "The midfield tackling was immense, with Kit, who had a really good all-round game, Rob Sparks (in his first game of the season) and Sandeman (moved from flank to outside centre for the game) outstanding." The returning flanker Roger Roberts and talismanic veteran hooker Dave Sprinks, in for the injured Ben Davies, also earned praise from the coach. "H&B usually start the season slowly," he said. "So this was a very welcome result and an encouraging performance." Wing Ben Vine played his first game for the 1st XV as a second half replacement. Kit Claughton was man of the match. H&B start their Powergen Vase campaign on Saturday September 17 with a tough 'revenge' home game against their last season's nemesis Horsham. Davies is likely to have recovered from a tweaked back, but Granville (ankle) is doubtful.