Little to show for battling display

HASTINGS & BEX WHITSTABLE 35

WHITSTABLE produced another encouraging display but suffered another Shepherd Neame Kent 1 defeat, going down 35-18 at Hastings & Bexhill on Saturday. Blues began brightly, attacking at pace and not allowing their hosts to settle and eventually a fine team move allowed Sam Payne to cross for a 5-0 lead. However, Hastings replied with two penalties to take the lead before Payne replied with three points of his own to make it 8-6. Despite brave defence following a close-range scrum, the hosts regained the lead with a converted try, although a penalty from Paul Lyttle brought it back to 13-11 soon after. A penalty for Hastings made it 16-11 at the break but Whitstable battled on after the break and were rewarded with a fine scrum paving the way for Tom Evans to race through to score and convert his try for an 18-16 lead. The hosts replied with a converted score of their own soon after and although the visitors continued to press their hosts – with Lyttle making two try-saving tackles – Hastings were able to add two converted scores in the dying minutes to seal the points. Whitstable: Rothwell, Harris, Payne M, Warner, McVicar, Meaden, Holness S, Holness J, Collins J, McDermott, Evans, Payne S, Booty, French, Lyttle

Whitstable 2nds lost 22-19 to East Peckham after conceding a score with the last play of the game. Jackson and Collins scored for Blues – with Collins running the length of the field for his score – while Scott Payne kicked the other points. On Saturday Whitstable host Shooters Hill (2.15pm) while the 2nds visit Thanet 4ths (2.30pm).

WHITSTABLE under-9s will take on a team from France at the Twickenham Stoop next Friday night (February 22) as part of a British & Irish Legends charity clash with France. The Blues youngsters will take on their continental countErparts during the half-time interval and the club will be running coaches to west London for the 7.45pm kick-off. On Saturday, some of the club’s Junior and Mini Section will play in the Etihad Curtain Raiser Cup at The Stoop before Harlequins face Leicester.