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17-18 October match reports
19th October 2009

17 October 2009- Seniors

1st XV
Lewes v Bromley
Score: 32 - 24
Report by Dereck Wade
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Lewes's winning run continued on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over Bromley. With a squad depleted by seven players due to injuries and unavailability, this was always going to be a stern test of Lewes's resources, and so it seemed as Bromley surged into a 3 – 17 lead on the half hour. But, to Lewes' credit, they then got back into their confident style of rugby, and dominated the remainder of the match to go 32 – 17 up a few moments before the final whistle. Only a late consolation try for Bromley, deep into what seemed an unjustified amount of extra time, made the score more respectable to the visitors than might otherwise suggest.

Bromley took the lead after only 3 minutes, when a clever grubber kick from halfway, through the Lewes defence, was snapped up on the run by their centre, N. Wardingly who touched down under the posts. The conversion by scrum-half T. Claridge saw the visitors take a surprise opening lead of 0 – 7.

Lewes then began to get their act together as the new players to the team settled down, and the next 10 minutes saw home pressure on the Bromley defence. This paid off on the quarter-hour with a penalty on the 22 metre line which fly-half Matt Adair coolly slotted over to reduce the arrears to 3 – 7. Five minutes later, Bromley stretched the advantage to 3 – 10 with a second penalty kick from Claridge. From the re-start, Lewes skipper Ben Hamer caught the ball and ran some 60 metres to the try line, only to be brought  down inches from what would have been a fine score.

On the half-hour, a Bromley counter-attack enabled them to make an overlap on the right for their winger, E. Foley to touch down unopposed, the try converted by Claridge, to make it 3 – 17.Shortly afterwards, Lewes`s No. 8, Matt Ridley, was sin-binned for a high tackle, but, in spite of being reduced to 14 men, Lewes hit back just before the half-time whistle with a fine interception try from right-wing Steve Mills, who sprinted some 75 metres for a touch don under the posts, converted by Adair, to see the home side go in at the break at a more respectable 13 – 17, and with it the chance of a fight-back.

This proved to be the case, as the second half belonged to Lewes, with constant pressure inside Bromley`s half and dedicated defence whenever the visitors attempted to break out.  A series of penalties was inevitable, as was the yellow-carding of Bromley`s hooker, A. Loughman, for persistent offside. A fine, flowing move on 50 minutes saw Hamer draw the defence before passing out to centre Dave Tyrell for a great try, converted by Adair, to see Lewes take the lead for the first time at 20 – 17, much to the relief of the large home crowd.

Lewes pulled further away on 63 minutes, centre Nick Sharp rounding off a period of pressure for an unconverted try to make it 25 – 17, and ten minutes later this became 32 – 17 when a great move between forwards and backs was rounded off by Mills for his second try, converted by Adair.

With the match in its dying seconds, Lewes then appeared to rest on their laurels, allowing Bromley to end the match on the ascendant by scoring an extra-time try from centre M. Adenyia, converted by Claridge, to put some respectability on the final score of 32 – 24. Some last-gasp, heroic tackling from full-back Will Bell put an end to any further hopes of Bromley taking anything from the match.

Nevertheless, this performance by Lewes -  their fourth victory on the trot – was  due in no small part to the character and team-spirit which Coach Nigel Baker has engendered within the squad.

Lewes: Williams, Mason, Read (Horscroft 52 mins.), Gorbell, Brant, Hamer (Capt.)(Walker 78 mins.), Arbuthnot, Ridley,Terry, Adair, Mills, Tyrell (Stewart 52 mins.), Sharp, Pitts, Bell

Next  Saturday, Lewes are again at home , versus Deal & Betteshanger: K.O. 3.00pm

2nd XV
Seaford v Lewes
Score: 10 - 0

3rd XV
Eastbourne v Lewes
Score: 12 - 47
Report by Steve Jackson

Eastbourne’s 3rd team visited Lewes to play in a League game. Lewes, who had key players missing still managed to get 18 players out ranging from retired players, club coaches, and some returning early from injury. Lewes not suprisingly conceded 40 points before half time but still managed to score one try through winger Tom Greet with his 6th try in as many games.
 
After the break the game had to go uncontested as veteran prop and junior chairman Paul Harman had to go off. Paul, who hasn’t played competitively for some years did well to complete the half.

Lewes then got themselves into the match more with scrum half Nick Rourke managing to get the ball to fly half Simon Coe more resulting in some fine passages of play by the back line. However this pressure resulted in a breakaway try for Eastbourne. Lewes to their credit kept at it. Lewes were disrupted even further when skipper for the day loosehead prop Stuart Sheil had to go off injured. The backs were still passing accurately and this was rewarded when inside centre Martin Barr, with pace and strong running, scored a fine try.

Makeshift flanker Paul Newman then pulled a hamstring and the fun started when winger Edd Hill and the 3rd XV’s usual captain and late arrival Steve Jackson went loose head and hooker respectively. Lewes still had more chances to score though through right wing Ben Morgan before the end – again after some great passing – but was just held up on the line . So the match ended in a 47 -12 win for Eastbourne although Lewes can take heart from a great second half effort which was only 7-5 to the visitors.

“A big thank you must go out once again to all the veteran coaches who always play when there club needs them – it really is appreciated – and also all our supporters who we are gaining every week,” says Steve Jackson.
 
Man of the Match was returning inside center Martin Barr.
 
Next Saturday the Lewes 3rd XV welcomes Crowborough 2nds to Lewes. Support is always welcome.

18 October 2009 - Juniors

Under 13s
Brighton v Lewes (friendly)
Score: 46 - 5
Report by Ron Sillett

With a few of our regular players injured or unavailable  this was a good fixture for all the remaining squad to get experience to play against tough opposition.  Brighton were a well drilled and heavier squad who ran in 8 tries and converted three. Lewes did not at all put their heads down and played to their best ability right to the end with James Mckeown scoring our only try and also showing good leadership of his pack. Our tackling was again a little week and some of our positioning on the field a bit wayward but it is getting better and looking forward to our next league game against Worthing at home next Sunday with a full A squad.

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