Shield victors win on league return

The rugby club triumphed 29-8 away to New Ash Green, the bottom club in Kent One, albeit without playing as well as in recent matches.

Despite fielding makeshift front and back rows, being short of a substitute and without a specialist hooker, H&B opened a 10-0 lead through a Paul Sandeman penalty, Dillon Newell try and Sandeman conversion.

Ash kicked a penalty right on half time and got back to 10-8 with an unconverted try following a kick and chase early as H&B started the second period with only 13 men.

H&B hit back straight away, though, with a Sandeman try before, back to 15 men, Piers Claughton went over with Sandeman converting for 22-8. A Kit Claughton and Sandeman conversion completed the scoring near the end.

Elsewhere, a depleted Rye side lost 39-0 away to newly-crowned Sussex One champions Pulborough. Full reports on both matches will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played-points) - Kent One: 1 Gillingham Anchorians 20-88, 2 Vigo 19-72, 3 Dartfordians 19-65, 4 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 20-64, 5 Shooters Hill 19-58, 6 Sittingbourne 20-48, 7 HSBC 21-42, 8 Old Gravesendians 19-41, 9 Cranbrook 19-41, 10 Beccehamian 20-25, 11 Whitstable 19-22, 12 New Ash Green 19-17.

Sussex One: 1 Pulborough 17-67, 2 East Grinstead II 17-57, 3 Burgess Hill 17-50, 4 Holbrook 16-39, 5 Seaford 16-38, 6 RYE 16-33, 7 Newick 16-30, 8 Brighton II 17-27, 9 Eastbourne II 16-22, 10 Chichester III 16-8.