Hastings & Bexhill II 27 - 7 Cinque Ports Rugby (HT 7-7)
Another defeat for Cinque Ports, but this was the moment that in words of club secretary and founding member Peter Silk that "Cinque Ports came of age". After a number of close defeats Cinque Ports were facing a Hastings side who had previously rolled over Crowborough III 75-0. With the extra spice of it being a local derby it was always going to be a game where both sides were fired up. In the early exchanges it appeared that the hosts were particularly fired up, with a succession of surges to the line. CPR held firm though, great defence from Dale Whittington, Dean Dedman and Craig Barningham all putting a stop to the rumbles with huge tackles. Whittington was also a presence at the line out, stealing a number of Hastings' ball. Hastings did dominate the other set piece though, and a series of scrums near the line seemed likely to result in a try but great defence- including holding up an effort over the line resulted in Cinque Ports holding them score less. Offensively CPR had flashes too. Murray Whittington, a worrying, skittering presence against his former club and Ross Kearney & Simon Baillie offering a pacy celtic influence to the back three. Where Hastings & Bexhill were strong in the scrum there was a real sense of competition in the rucks and it was from a counter ruck that Cinque Ports broke for their first real opportunity. Barningham's hard work released the ball and it was worked through the hands to Murray Whittington who wriggled through three tackles to crash over with Kearney in support. Paul Smart provided the conversion. Hastings & Bexhill upped the intensity at this point, but still lost line out ball to the towering senior Whittington. A rumbling forwards move saw the hosts equalise just before half time. Cinque Ports' first half performance was characterised by a tactically astute kicking game with both Smart and captain Chris Eastwood using the boot to release pressure, and give attacking opportunities.
Luke Price and Bailie were both unlucky not to achieve more when chasing teasing kicks. The second half saw a Hastings & Bexhill still looking to rumble the ball, but the wall of red held strong. Particularly pleasing was a defensive Maul from a H & B 5 metre scrum. Replacement Adam Bigg brought more pace and some dangerous running and both himself and Bailie broke the line but Hastings attacked with added impetus and despite some great defensive work from Dale Whittington & Dedman they rumbled over for a number of tries and slotted a penalty. Vince Page on at scrum-half for Eastwood typified the attitude though, winning ruck ball and forcing a Hastings team now strengthened from a strong bench to tackle across the field. Smart was still using the boot to good effect, a stabbing jittery kick almost falling to Rob Fink. The game ended with Cinque Ports reduced to 14 due to injuries but still making tackles as the whistle blew.
Team Manager Gavin Thomas was quick to sing the praises of the CPR team "This time last year two divisions seperated us and Hastings. I think it's fair to say the gulf between us today was much smaller. We were gutsy, and hard working and forced them to scrap for every inch of territory. In my six seasons at the club I'm hard pressed to think of a time I've been prouder."
Dale Whittington was named as man of the match, Head Coach Bill Langley saying "He was important everywhere for us". Bustling Prop Rob Tritton also received credit for a "hard working performance in the scrum & loose" Langley said "Rob didn't stop moving for 80 minutes.
Team: Giles, Wright, Tritton, Thomas (Pantry-Meyer), Barningham (Maplesden), Malthouse (Langley), D Whittington, Dedman, Eastwood (Page), Smart, Baillie (Fink), Perry, Price (Bigg), M Whittington, Kearney (Barthropp)
