Must-win clash for H&B

H&B simply must beat a side who's lost just once in the league this season at William Parker School tomorrow (Saturday) or face the prospect of another season at this level which would be a major disappointment in view of their giantkilling cup exploits.

Hamilton said: "I'm going to stick my neck out and say we expect to beat Hove, not that we hope to beat them but we expect to beat them.

"I think we are the best team in Sussex (the Sussex League) and we do have as much strength in depth as we've ever had which is why I do feel we could survive if we went up. You need about 25 quality players and I think we've got that. But we know they're going to be a good side and we think it's going to be right up there with Aylesford."

There are no availability or injury concerns but Hamilton and coaches Roger Stanley and Jerry Hohenkirk have selection dilemmas in the front row, back row, at scrum-half and full-back.

H&B moved to within six points of Hove with a 53-0 thrashing of struggling Norfolk Arms. Try-scorers were Kit Claughton (2), Paul Northen, Paul Flood, Rob Sparks, Andy Hitch, Ben Davies, Ben Campbell and Tony Roche.