H&B coach savours most successful season

By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jun 2017, 08:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:16 BST
Steve McManus scores H&B's opening try in the Sussex Shield final. Picture courtesy Nigel BakerSteve McManus scores H&B's opening try in the Sussex Shield final. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker
Steve McManus scores H&B's opening try in the Sussex Shield final. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker
Hastings & Bexhill head coach Chris Brooks called it '˜the best season I can remember' after the rugby club completed a league and cup double.

H&B added the Sussex Shield to their Kent One title courtesy of a 25-8 victory over Burgess Hill in Saturday’s final at a very warm East Grinstead RFC.

Brooks said: “I think I’ve been at the club since 1990 and certainly this is the most successful season results-wise that I can remember. It’s been an awesome season.”

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H&B have won 25 of their 28 games in all competitions this term, scoring 915 points and conceding only 315. In their three Sussex Shield matches, they amassed 140 points and conceded just 18.

H&B in possession against Burgess Hill. Picture courtesy Nigel BakerH&B in possession against Burgess Hill. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker
H&B in possession against Burgess Hill. Picture courtesy Nigel Baker

“It’s solely down to the players,” continued Brooks. “They’re a very talented group, they love their rugby and training is always very well attended.

“Training isn’t autocratic either. The players themselves, if they’ve got an idea or want to try something, aren’t shy in coming forward and running a training session. We’ve got a lot of integrity.”

H&B’s success has been very much homegrown. Of the 22 players used in the Sussex Shield final, for example, 15 had begun playing in the club’s minis section.

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