Deal & Betteshanger have this season been left ruing a terrible injury record.

After forming what they felt was a strong Kent 1 squad in the summer, their chances of competing at the top-end of the table were dealt a huge blow inside the opening weeks with knocks effectively leaving them without half their first-team squad.

“That effectively meant we had second-team players playing,” said director of rugby Peter Hollingworth.

“Most of the second-team now came through from youth rugby into senior rugby during Covid so they’ve had no real experience. They had a two-season gap in their rugby.

“So they’ve not had the experience they need. It’s not about their ability, it’s about the experience, but they are learning fast. We get some results some weeks, other weeks, we get beaten.

“But it’s endemic everywhere you go.

“Every club you go to, and when you look at the results in our division, one minute you have got a club that’s sitting at the top of the league. Next minute, it has two or three games where they are getting thrashed by everyone that goes near them.

"So I think everyone is struggling.

“With the head injury assessment rule, you are out three to four weeks - if not more - and that’s causing problems in every club, not that I’m suggesting it should be any other way.

“But we had a squad of 26 in the first-team that was, effectively, halved in the first three weeks with long-term injuries.”

Those injuries have, ultimately, taken a toll at Deal, who sit eighth.

Hollingsworth insisted: “We could be sitting on the top of this division. The squad that set out in September was capable.

“We all believe that, that’s not just my belief. We look at the results and play these teams.

“Even the other week, Old Alleynians put nearly 80 points on us. But they weren’t that good - we were just so poor!

“It was just one of those weeks where we barely had a team.”

But some of the Lions’ young crop have impressed in the first-team environment.

“We have one or two,” he said.

“Jack Morgan, our No.8, has really muscled his way into the first-team - so much so that we have an older No.8 that can’t get back in the shirt.

“There’s been one or two lads that have really breezed into the first-team and established themselves in there. From second-team to first-team, it isn’t just about a level of rugby, it’s about a level of aggression as well. It’s a complete mindset change.

“With the lack of space you get, it’s a totally different game. It can take a season or two before good young players adapt to the difference.

“It’s a big difference and a big step up, but Jack’s done well.”

Playing such a level of rugby is quite a commitment.

Hollingsworth explained: “It requires training twice a week, gym twice a week, plus Saturday all day to play. So it requires a lot of commitment - and they have got families.

“I think we have four in the first-team now, bringing their kids on a Sunday morning and they are coaching teams with their children in it.

"So they’re almost doing five days a week.”

But with injuries starting to clear up, and former Canterbury man Ollie Best among those due back soon, Deal - coached by Danny Vaughan - will be out to avenge their loss at Thanet Wanderers when they play them at home this Saturday (2pm kick-off).

Hollingsworth on Tuesday said: “Thanet Wanderers beat us home and away last year, and they beat us away at the start of the season, then their season has collapsed this year.

“So we don’t know what team we are going to be playing. I don’t think we know who we have got yet! That’s how it is, really. It’s a lottery.

“But there’s a definite mindset for Saturday. We definitely would like to finish on a high and ruin their Christmas - like they ruined our Christmas last year.

“Strangely, it was the Christmas game last year at their place.”

Deal will then be at home to Crowborough in their first competitive match in 2023 on Saturday, January 7.