Men’s 1st XV v Hastings & Bexhill 15/01/2005

Home – London 4 South East

Report by Andy Ward

Won 20-8

Hove welcomed Hastings and Bexhill for this Sussex Cup 2nd round tie. The game was only five minutes old when Hastings were awarded a penalty for crossing. Full back, Paul Sandeman missed the resulting kick at goal. The visitors continued to press forward Hove could only clear their lines by winning line-outs. This, mainly due to the hard work of second rowers Laurent Doggett and Jason Ellison.

After fifteen minutes a Hastings line-out was charged down and Adam Phillips went over to put the home side ahead. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 5-0. Two minutes later Hove were caught offside and Hastings full back Paul Sandeman stepped up to reduce the arrears to 5-3. Hastings continued to add pressure to the Hove line and were awarded another penalty on twenty minutes. This time Sandeman put his kick wide.

As the visitors were almost camped in Hove’s twenty-two, a scrum led to Dave Northern going over for the try to give Hastings the lead. Paul Sandeman missed the conversion. In the closing moments of the first half,on thirty eight minutes, with Hove going forward and looking dangerous Nick Paddenburg made a good break down the wing which led to Graham Street scoring by the posts.Adam Phillips added the conversion, making the half time score Hove 12 Hastings 8.

The second half began with Hastings winger making a break down the wing, only to be stopped by a fine tackle by Graham Street, thus preventing a try being scored. The half itself was mostly played in midfield, with neither side showing any true opportunity of scoring. But on sixty minutes Hove were awarded a penalty which resulted in Hastings number eight being sin-binned for a high tackle. Adam Phillips duly kicked the penalty making the score 15-8. Hove still put pressure on the Hastings defence with little effect until on seventy-seven minutes they were awarded a scrum close to Hastings try line. Following this, Rob Smith went over for a push-over try, making the final score HOVE 20 HASTINGS 8.