Men’s 1st XV v Hastings & Bexhill 08/09/2007

Home – Sussex Cup

Report by Andy Ward

Won 69-0

On a sunny Saturday afternoon Hove entertained Hastings in the first round of the Sussex Cup. Hove fresh from their previous week’s win over Petersfield in the EDF Senior Vase had their first home game of the season.

Hastings, fresh from promotion into SE4 last season were looking to see how they would fare against opponents in that league. Sadly, the gap is a chasm and Hove bristled with energy, pace and width to run out easy 69-0 winners. Outside Centre Luke Longcroft opened the scoring with the first try of the eventual 11 to be scored by the home side. This was followed by scores from Left Wing Alex Probyn, Open Side Flanker Jack Baker and a brace from Stand Off Ryan Morlen with Full Back Alex Robertson converting three of these to see Hove go in at half time 31-0 to the good.

The second half opened with Hove skipper and Scrum Half James Finlason making a good early score which was followed with three from Right Wing Matt Sole, one from Outside Centre Luke Longcroft and one by Full Back Alex Robertson who also converted 4 of these to wrap up the score as 38-0 in the second half and 69-0 overall.