News & match reports
Unbeaten weekend for Lewes Seniors
12th October 2009
Saturday 10 October
1st XV
KCS Old Boys vs Lewes 1st XV
Score: 3 - 10
Report by Dereck Wade
Lewes maintained their successful start to the new season with a third successive away win, this time against Wimbledon-based side KCS Old Boys who before the kick-off were one place higher in the League table.
This was a game in three phases: Lewes started well and dominated the first third, with the majority of the possession and territory; the middle third saw the home side recover, but being held out by a stalwart Lewes defence; while the final third belonged to the Sussex side, who fought back well to take the deserved 2 points which saw them rise to third place in the table, behind unbeaten League leaders Tonbridge Juddians, and only 1 point behind second-placed, and local rivals, Hove.
Lewes kicked off with a series of good attacking moves, with influential outside-half Matt Adair almost touching down after only 3 minutes. The following Lewes attack was thwarted by an Old Boys interception down the right wing, which was halted by fine Lewes tackling to relieve a rare moment of home pressure. Lewes` dominance during this phase of the match paid off after 15 minutes when prop-forward Steve Andre rounded off a flowing move to score the opening try, converted by Adair, to see the visitors open the lead at 0 – 7. A second try appeared top have been scored a few minutes later by lock-forward Chris Brant, only to be ruled out by the referee who decided that the ball had not been grounded.
Ten minutes later, Lewes` scrum half, Kirk Ward, had to go off with an injured shoulder, and the resultant positional changes – centre Will Bell to No. 9; flanker Ben Hamer to centre, and replacement Tom Tudor to the back row – temporarily upset the Sussex side`s rhythm and flair. This enabled KCS to come back into the game with more possession and territory, resulting in a penalty against Lewes on 27 minutes, slotted over by their full-back, Jamie Hearne, to reduce the deficit to 3 – 7, which remained the score at the half-time whistle.
Ten minutes into the second half, Adair was sin-binned for a high tackle, but, in spite of being reduced temporarily to 14 men, Lewes held out with a fine defensive display. Further injuries saw Ashley Howkins replace full-back Sam Hutchinson, and Jason Lundin take over from prop-forward Rob Williams.
However, the final phase of the match belonged to Lewes, who finished as well as they had begun, restricting the Old Boys to within their own 22 metre area for long periods. A penalty against them was inevitable, and 2 minutes from time, one was duly awarded to Lewes in front of the posts, Adair calmly kicking the ball over for a fine and well-earned win by 3 – 10.
Lewes: Williams Mason, Andre, Gorbell, Brant, Hamer, Arbuthnot, Ridley, Ward, Adair, Mills, Sharp, Bell, Halpin, Hutchinson. (Reps, all used: Howkins, Lundin, Tudor)
Lewes now embark on three successive home matches, beginning this Saturday with a League fixture against Bromley, k.o. 3.00pm.
2nd XV
Lewes 3rd XV vs Pulborough
Score: 19 - 19
3rd XV
Hove Fusiliers vs Lewes 2nd XV
Score: 8 - 8
Lewes 3rd XV visited Hove Fusiliers which are a vets side of many players spanning a wide age range. The match started with Lewes giving a debut to Nick Rourke a veteran scrum half and also coach of the promising Lewes U12s squad. Nick demonstrated the wealth of his experience and started pulling the strings from the off: this is what the team had been missing over the past few weeks.
Lewes, strong in the scrum, soon had the momentum and it wasn’t long before they scored first with strong running and strength from number 8 Terry Falk. Hove then used their experience when they got near the 5 metre line, with Lewes giving away a penalty which was coolly dispatched by the Hove fly half. This was becoming a closely contested match with scores now at 5-3 to Lewes. Rourke, still strong at No 9, was able to give the backs more ball and this was rewarded with Hove giving away a penalty under the post which outside centre Jordon Knight converted with ease to make the score 8-3 to Lewes. Hove then came back utilising their back line to great effect with their winger scoring in the corner. However they were unable to get the conversion so the scores were level at half time at 8-8.
After the break Lewes made some changes to the back row and on the wings. Hove, with their many players did the same, however this did not detract from an entertaining match. Nick Rourke, playing his first game for a number of years, lasted another 10 minutes but eventually ran out of steam and had to be replaced at No 9 by Simon Coe with full back Paul Newman slotting in at No 7. Hove probably shaded the second half with fresher legs but could not add to their score with Lewes holding on to the draw with the match finishing 8-8.
This match was what 3rd team rugby is all about: played in a fine spirit with young and old alike. Man of the match had to go to scrum half Nick Rourke in his first game for a while, contributing the experience the Lewes team needed.
Fine performances too came from No 15 Paul Newman, No 8 Terry Falk and also a mention for the front row which included Stuart Shiel, Aiden Byrne – winning ball against the head again – and young Ben Stechler for a great game at tight head against a wise Hove front row.
Saturday 17 October sees the Eastbourne 3rd team visit Lewes for a Sussex 2 East league fixture.
Sunday 11 October
The ladies
Lewes ladies vs Barnes ladies
Score: 19 - 5
Report by Alice Hannon
The second league match of the season was greeted by heavy winds and horizontal rain, much to the delight of the Lewes Ladies, who could not bear the thought of another match set on an arid Stanley Turner pitch.
Barnes Ladies kicked off the game with real dynamo and scored a swift try, which against the gale that was blowing, they were unable to convert. Lewes, unsurprisingly were not too pleased with this, but ignored the score, held their heads up and raised their game.
Flying Jen ‘Flea’ Laing pierced through Barnes’ resolute defensive line to score a delicious 5 points for Lewes, which was ably drop-kicked by Rab Willis for another 2.
Lewes were back in control and took constant advantage of Barnes’ sloppy rucking, stealing the ball and cracking some storming tackles (even on some of the more robust members of the opposition) and Anita’s footwork would have made Patrick himself blush (God rest his soul).
Half time came and went (thanks Jason for the motivational speech of the year!) and Sexy Lexie Kent engineered a most decisive try, which was followed by an hour’s worth of grinning from our ‘dainty’ Flanker. We will ignore the conversion, or lack of it (Rab, were you on the phone?).
After some interesting tackles from Barnes, including a hatefully dangerous attempt on Anita’s precious spine in our 5 meter line, our Captain could take no more so played much like the forward she longs to be, and crashed through a fatigued Barnes line and scored our final try for the match.
The last ten minutes of the game also saw some sterling running from Cath ‘G-G’ Arnold and great aggression from Summer, allowing Lewes to triumphantly end the game on a tremendous score of 19-5.
Try scorers: Jen Laing, Alexa Kent, Rebecca Willis
Conversions: Rebecca Willis x 2
The ladies are next playing away at Guildford on 25th October.
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