H&B focused on promotion push

That is the verdict of captain Kit Claughton, who says that the recent dispute between members of the club's hierarchy over how to take the club forward will not bother his team.

Chairman Peter Silk had parts of a long-term 'business plan' criticised by president Peter Southee for being "inaccurate" and "unobtainable".

H&B remained top of Sussex Division One with an unconvincing 19-8 win at bottom-of-the-table Pulborough at the weekend and have a crunch trip to fourth-placed Uckfield on Saturday January 28.

"It won't affect us at all," Claughton said. "The team spirit is very good in all the teams and a lot of people are turning up for training.

"The next month (during which they also entertain Brighton in the first round of the Sussex Trophy, and take on Crawley at home and Burgess Hill away in the league) is crucial - it's probably going to shape the rest of the season. If we can get some good results there, we should be okay, but we want to go into the Crowborough match (on March 11) without any more defeats."

But if they are to get to that stage without further setback, they'll need to improve on last weekend's performance because Uckfield ran them close at William Parker Sports College earlier in the season and beat them there on the final day of last season.

"We're going to have to improve quite a lot," Claughton continued. "Uckfield is a very difficult game. They are a young team with very quick backs and mobile forwards. They are very confident and it's quite a hostile place to play."

Ben Davies (shoulder) is out for four to six weeks and Dave Milham (knee) is still not quite ready to return, but Tom Brampton is available after missing the Pulborough match with work commitments.