London and SE Junior Vase
25 February 2017 2pm

During this game H&B winger Jake Stinson scored the team's 100th try of the season; unfortunately this milestone was over shadowed by the heavy defeat inflicted by the Surrey visitors.

The game kicked off with H&B playing into a blustery gale and within a minute of the start, coach Chris Brooks was rearranging his playing formation. Dominic Sewell had received a heavy blow to his shoulder and had to leave the pitch for treatment. Tom Vincent came on at prop and Steve McManus moved to the second row. Almost immediately from the restart OW pressure on the reorganised defence led to the first try of the day.

Whitgiftians had several big, strong and fast men throughout their team. They were able to pressurise the H&B defence into errors and within 25 minutes were over twenty points in the lead.

The Hastings full back, Harry Walker; one of the stars of this season's success, had to be helped from the pitch in a fairly dazed state following a very heavy tackle. He was replaced by Ben Campbell on the wing with Tom Waring moved to full back.

Despite some heroic performances from skipper Jimmy Adams, No8 Mark Piotrowski and centre Ben Petty OWs were able to build on their lead and at half time were 33 nil ahead.

Playing with the benefit of the weather H&B were able to make more impact in the second half. They put the visitors defence under pressure and mounted several promising attacks. However OWs were still able to score three more tries with H&Bs reply being a brace from winger Stinson.

Throughout the game the Hastings backs were trying to force the breaks that have been a feature of this season. Kit Claughton playing at fly half initiated a fine across the pitch move for full back Tom Waring to put Stinson clear for a well constructed try which Steadman converted.

Jack James and Adam Baker replaced Sandeman and Ackerly in the 60th minute, both made a positive contribution to the game and are definitely good prospects for the future.

Stinson completed the scoring in the 76th minute with a well taken try; he beat the OWs full back in a chase for the ball and touched down out on the right, Steadman converted but Old Whitgiftians ran out worthy winners of a game that puts them two matches from a Twickenham final.

H&B XV: Roche, Umpleby, McManus S, Sewell ( Vincent 1min.) Adams, McManus F, Sandeman (James 60 min.) Piotrowski, Steadman, Claughton, Stinson, Ackerly ( Baker 60 min.) Petty, Waring T, Walker ( Campbell 27 min.)

Match report by Peter Knight

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Team Sponsors

Login