Hastings & Bexhill see healthy lead slip away in first home loss
H&B saw a 17-3 advantage turn into a 21-17 defeat against Vigo in London Three South East on Saturday.
In dry, sunny conditions and after a week off, it was all H&B for the first 10 minutes but they were unable to turn the pressure into points. Tom Waring missed a penalty after Vigo were penalised for offside.
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Hide AdSee also: * Hastings & Bexhill beaten by league leaders* St Leonards star edged out in epic English Open final* Hastings announce stadium plan at new siteVigo broke into H&B’s half for the first time on 12 minutes and took a 3-0 lead with a penalty from in front of the posts. They missed the chance to double their advantage eight minutes later when they failed to kick a penalty from an easy position.
On 25 minutes, Waring went over in the corner for the first try of the day following sustained pressure by H&B. His magnificent conversion from the touchline made it 7-3 to the home side.
Tim Sills was causing all sorts of problems for the Vigo defence and just before half time his excellent run led to a backs’ move which ended in Tom Foord scoring in the corner.
Foord suffered a dislocated ankle in the act of scoring, however, which resulted in him going to hospital. The conversion was missed by Waring.
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Hide AdH&B continued to dominate early in the second half and substitute Tom Jones touched down for another try, again in the corner, and although the conversion was missed, H&B led 17-3.
Six minutes into the second half, though, Vigo intercepted an H&B pass and proceeded to score under the posts. With an easy conversion, they closed the gap to 17-10.
From this point on, Vigo took control of the game. A series of penalties, one of which was kicked, brought Vigo right back into the game at 17-13.
On the hour, Vigo were rewarded for their second half pressure with an unconverted try and an 18-17 lead. With 10 minutes to go, Vigo extended their lead to four points with another penalty.
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Hide AdThe home team rallied for the last few minutes, with the forwards and backs desperately trying to get the try they needed to swing the contest H&B’s way.
Even after a Vigo player was yellow carded for continually being offside and playing the ball in the ruck, H&B were just unable to breach the visitors’ defence. A disappointing result after being so much in charge during the first half.
H&B’s under-13 team formed a guard of honour for both sides before the match as they left the changing rooms and entered the field of play.
H&B: McDonough, Umpleby, S. McManus, Crosby-Clarke, Sewell, Van Herpen, Hanagarth, F. McManus, Shaw, Steadman, Suggitt, Waring, Stinson, Sills, Foord. Subs: J. Jones, T. Jones, Geary.