Must win clash awaits H&B

Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club head coach Kevin Smith says his side must avoid defeat against Gillingham Anchorians to stand any chance of beating the drop

H&B are at home to Gillingham Anchorians in a second-bottom versus fourth-bottom London Three South East relegation scrap.

H&B are 10 points behind their opponents with three teams expected to go down. Kick-off at ARK William Parker Academy is 2.30pm.

“If we don’t win on Saturday, we’re going down,” said H&B head coach Smith. “If we give them another four points, that’s too much to close up.”

H&B were beaten 37-7 in October’s reverse fixture, which Smith described as “the poorest game of rugby we’ve played since I’ve been here”.

“I would say they’re pretty confident of coming down and beating us after their performance up there,” continued Smith. “But we’re fighting for survival and we can do it.

“I think they will be physical up-front, try and wear us down, and boot for territory. We’ve got to frustrate them and starve them of the ball.

“We’ve got seven games left, and I just want them (the players) to get out there, enjoy their rugby and get the spark back.”

Elsewhere tomorrow, Rye Rugby Club will make the long journey to Chichester III in Sussex One.