Coach: Title probably beyond us

The William Parker Sports College-based outfit - which targeted top spot at the start of the season - is down in sixth place having lost six of its 11 league games so far and the gap to leaders Dartfordians is now 10 points.

H&B head coach Smith said: “I just think it’s probably a little bit too much. Will we finish in the top three? I would like to think so. But I just think Dartfordians are a little bit too far ahead.

“If we had won on Saturday I would say it’s all there because we’ve still got the best defensive record and we can score tries, but we’re prone to making silly little mistakes. We’ve just got to take a game at a time and see how we go.”

Smith felt ill-discipline was to blame for the 19-17 loss at home to Beccehamian last weekend. H&B are fixtureless tomorrow (Saturday) and are therefore likely to fall further off the pace.

Rye Rugby Club’s first and second teams, meanwhile, are both at home on the same day for the first time this season tomorrow. The first team hosts bottom half side Newick in Sussex One and the seconds take on Crowborough III on the adjacent pitch in Sussex Two East.

Vice-captain Gary Edmunds is hopeful that the front side can build up a winning run, having disposed of Lewes II in their first game back following the festive period last weekend.

“We’ve beaten them (Newick) twice already this term,” Edmunds said. “Hopefully we can carry on our good run against them when they visit us this weekend. They’re near the bottom of the table, and no disrespect to them, but we think it’s a game we can win.”