MARTIN MACDONALD hopes Hove can end their season with some silverware and a top-four finish despite slipping down the table following a stop-start post-Christmas run.

Hove lost 30-14 to London Two South East leaders Old Colfeians at home on Saturday and are sixth in the table.

Skipper Macdonald admits it is not where they had hoped to be after going into the December break well placed.

He said: “We were second at Christmas and we have fallen away.

“We have had people unavailable, had a lot of younger players coming through and also lost a couple of close games we probably should have won.

“There is still an outside chance we could finish fourth but it is more likely we shall finish fifth.

“We are in the Bob Rogers Cup final so there is an opportunity to win some sort of trophy.

“It has been a bit disappointing since Christmas.

“We said at the start of the year that if we could finish top four and win a cup, as we were in the RFU Cup as well, then it would be a good season.

“If we finish fifth and with a cup, it wouldn’t be bad as it was always going to be tough after coming down last year and having to rebuild again.”

Hove play Gravesend on Saturday in a rearranged game before a two week break.

Tries from Carles Casanova and Phil Dugard, plus two conversions from Casanova, supplied Hove’s points.

Macdonald admitted: “It was frustrating as our discipline let us down. We gave away 17 penalties which did not help us.

“We gave away a lot in the ruck area and they went to the corner and scored from a few of those.

“Possession was in their favour because of that.

“Haywards Heath have three games in hand so I expect Old Colfeians will go up but probably finish second.”

Crowborough suffered a 28-3 defeat at Charlton Park.

Their only points of the game came courtesy of a penalty from Oli Clinch.

They stay fifth and seven points ahead of Hove.

They now have two weeks off before hosting Maidstone on March 21.

Haywards Heath had their game against Maidstone postponed but head to Charlton Park on Saturday.

Chichester made the long trip to north west Kent for their London One South fixture at struggling Dartfordians. Despite leading at half-time, Chichester were not able to deal with the opposition’s pack, or the appalling weather conditions, and lost 22-19. Chichester’s tries were scored by Chris Johnson, Harry Seaman and Nick Blount.

Tom Blewitt added two conversions.

A young Horsham side lost 48-27 to promotion chasing visitors Westcombe Park.

The Green and Whites closed the gap to 38-27 midway through the second half but were unable to pull off a shock against a side with aspirations of a step up.

Horsham’s tries came from Declan Nwachukwu (two), Elliott Powell and man-of-the-match Emmet O’Rahilly while Tom Johnson added a penalty and two conversions.

Horsham head coach Nick Stocker said: “The lads showed some great spirit against a side who are now desperate to win every game with bonus points and potentially rely on other teams doing them a favour in their quest for promotion.”

Heathfield and Waldron were edged out 13-9 in a see-saw match at Bromley in London Three South East.

Jack Morgan’s two first-half penalties gave Heathfield a 6-5 lead at the break but he could only add one more as Bromley added a try and penalty.

Pulborough went down 25-10 at Park House despite tries from Nick Haynes and Frazer Oliphant-Hope.

Uckfield were 38-0 winners against Old Williamsonians.

In London and SE Premier, Brighton's game was postponed and Worthing Raiders were also off in National Two South.