Worthing coach Ian Davies admits promotion looks out of the question after a numbing home defeat in London One.

Now the focus is on spoiling the plans of the pacesetters after leaders Hertford won 13-3 at Roundstone Lane on Saturday.

A close-range try by scrum half Ollie Giddings right on half-time, plus a conversion and two penalties by Neil Barella, saw last season's Powergen Intermediate Cup winners to victory.

Worthing had a bright spell early in the seocond half when they were 10-0 down, rewarded by Roly Killeen's penalty, but generally failed to spread the play wide.

That, more than anything, was what disappointed Davies.

He said: "It all became a bit too individualistic and our key decision makers came up with some bad decisions. We needed to go through January unbeaten to be in the promotion mix.

"I still think we can damage people who are looking at promotion rather than ourselves being promoted."

Ironically, Worthing came closest to a try when Charlie McGowan was in the sin bin for the closing mintes. Raynn Bruce was forced into touch in the corner and a series of close range raids were snuffed out.