H&B set sights on promotion play-offs

Cranbrook have been in freefall in recent seasons, going down two leagues in two seasons, and only looking safe this season because the bottom club in their league has been docked so many points it has a huge minus score. But no visit to Cranbrook's muddy fortress is a walkover, and it will be a useful test for a Hastings' side whose realistic Sussex One ambitions have been curtailed by their failure to do themselves justice on the road, and the lack of a final cutting edge to their otherwise dominant league performances.

"We've got a couple of weeks to prepare ourselves for the biggest game we've got left, Crowborough at home (on March 1)," says assistant coach Rob Hamilton.

We're tied in second place, but we've got a points difference over them well into three figures, and a good record against them at home - we haven't lost to them for quite a while. There are very few teams even from the division above that we can't beat at home. And there's a fantastic prize to play for."

That prize is a runners-up end-of-season promotion play off against the runners-up in Kent 1 - looking like either Ashford or the well-organised up-and-coming Ayleford. Both likely to be a handful, but giving a cup final-style climax to H&B's season, with a berth in London Four as the reward.

"Tomorrow and next week well be trying to up our ability to strike quickly. We've been a bit ponderous at times from the set piece and from broken play - we're trying to be more explosive. We've got some very fast, attacking backs, but maybe we lack experienced decision-makers," says Hamilton. "If we'd made the most of the positions we created this season, we'd be heading the table."