Top two clash is must win

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club head coach Kevin Smith has described the top two clash against Park House as the most important game of the season.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jan 2014, 17:00 BST
Action from a previous meeting between Hastings & Bexhill and Park HouseAction from a previous meeting between Hastings & Bexhill and Park House
Action from a previous meeting between Hastings & Bexhill and Park House

Second-placed H&B are 10 points behind their opponents at William Parker tomorrow (Saturday) and therefore really must retain their unbeaten home record to keep their title hopes alive. Kick-off is 2.15pm.

“It’s a must-win game. We’re at home, we’re up against a very good side and we want to win. If we play like this team can play, then I think we can turn them over,” said Smith.

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“We can beat any side in this league if we absolutely focus on everything we do for the whole 80 minutes. We need to do everything at pace, create width on the ball, look after the ball and just play our rugby.”

Park House haven’t lost in 12 games and defeated H&B 36-17 when they met earlier in the season.

“We came out of the blocks slowly, and within 20 minutes the game went away from us,” added Smith. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on our guys, they know it’s a big game, but they’ve got to turn up and do the simple things right.

“If we cut down the penalty count, win the collision, win that 50/50 ball and create a little bit of width, then we can beat them.”

Rye RFC, meanwhile, will travel to second-placed Crawley in Sussex One tomorrow fresh off a 58-0 drubbing away to Eastbourne last weekend. Rye skipper Matt Cooke is still away.

Related topics:HastingsRye