News & match reports
19-20 September match reports
22nd September 2009
Saturday 19 September
Lewes snatch last gasp win
Saturday 19 September
Eastbourne v Lewes
Score: 10-14
Match report: Dereck Wade
In hot and sunny conditions last Saturday, Lewes pulled off their first League win of the season with a deserved away win against local rivals, Eastbourne.
However, it was a close fought encounter, and it was the hosts who took an early lead after only rwo minutes when Lewes were penalised for offside from 40 metres our, enabling Eastbourne`s full-back, James Coulthard, to slot over the resultant penalty.
On the 20 minute mark, however, Lewes fought back following a fine piece of flowing rugby from the half-way line. The ball was worked out wide by the forwards to the backs, where centre Charlie Terry cleverly drew the defence to create an overlap before passing to right-wing Steve Mills, who then sped to the line to touch down near the posts for the game`s opening try. Fly-half Matt Adair converted to see the visitors go into the lead at 3 – 7. The next 10 minutes saw almost continual Lewes pressure, but Eastbourne managed to hold out until the half-time break.
The first quarter of the second half saw many errors from both sides and at this stage it looked as though there would be no further score.
The game was in its 73rd. minute when a rare Eastbourne foray upfield from the half-way line resulted in substitute Shaun Everett breaking through the Lewes defence to score under the posts for a converted try to see his side take a shock lead 10 – 7.
The home supporters were convinced that they had snatched victory from Lewes`s grasp – but the visitors, to their credit, attacked back immediately from the re-start and, with a few seconds remaining, full-back Kiwi Sam Hutchinson rounded off a good move with a fine individual try in the right corner from long-range, Adair kicking the difficult conversion to see Lewes win the match by 10 – 14.
In spite of the low score-line, this was an improved performance by Lewes, who dominated several phases of the match, especially the line-out, but were let down at the last by unforced errors and a high penalty count against them which returned possession to their opponents at critical times.
Lewes: Andre, Mason, Williams (Lundin), Gorbell, Hamer (Capt.), Arbuthnot, Tudor, Ridley, Ward, Adair, Mills (Halpin), Terry, Bell, Sharp, Hutchinson
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Sunday 20 September
Lewes Colts v East Grinstead RFC
Score:
Match report by:
Lewes Colts continued their winning start to the season comfortably beating a weakened East Grinstead in a friendly fixture held at the Stanley Turner Ground. Grinstead experienced some late cry-off’s and had to borrow a Lewes player (Dom Wiseman) to make up the required numbers.
Both sides contributed to a very enjoyable game of rugby. Lewes started well with Josh Hillman attacking the Lewes kick off by Tom Bowen. Having won the ball Lewes spun it wide and a forward pass prevented a possible scoring opportunity. Lewes were always very quick to the breakdown and good support play, give the ball carrier different attacking options and made defence difficult. Austin Weight opened the scoring when he finished off a nice move on the left hand side of the posts after the forwards stole possession from Grinstead. Lewes continued to dominate with tries from Theo and Raff coming from sustained pressure by Lewes on the Grinstead line, all converted by Tom Bowen.
Stuart Diplock had long maintained his sublime ball handling skills were wasted in the forwards and proved that point today. Having moved to centre from playing back row he scored a most exquisite try just before half time. Running out of support players and being harassed by the Grinstead defence he kicked over and caught a cheeky ball and just managed to reach out and score while being tackled by the despairing Grinstead fullback. The boy has talent.
The second half continued much as the first with Lewes winning both the territorial and possession statistics. Grinstead can take credit from the fact they maintained their shape and kept encouraging each other and defended well to the end. When they did have possession they did attempt to attack however co-ordinated and strong Lewes defence restricted their options. Try scorers in the second half for Lewes were Theo and Raff as well as Nick who finished off a good move that started in the Lewes half and had the ball moving through many pairs of hands and nice movement and changes of the attack direction. Lewes Harte converting in the second half.
Lewes welcome back into the fold Danny Hemsley who had an excellent 15 minutes before he had to go off injured. It was a pleasure to see his smiling face running with the ball against the opposition.
Scorers for Lewes Theo Tyre, (2 tries), Raff Gunn (2 tries), Tom Bowen (3 conversions), Lewes Harte (2 conversions), Austin Weight (1 try), Nick Ratcliff (1 try), Stuart Diplock (1 try)
Lewes Squad: George Dean, Tom Hocking, Sam Rawson, Tom Howell, Lockie Diplock, Stuart Diplock, Christian Vanzie, Tom Pellett, Arron White, Josh Hillman, Lewis Harte, Theo Tyrer, Tom Bowen, Dom Burns, Matt Fox, Danny Hemsley, Raff Gunn, Austin Weight, Dom Wiseman, Nick Ratcliff
Lewes Women v Worthing Warriors
Score: 10-17
Match report: Alice Hannon
20 Lewes Ladies turned up for their first home match of the season, against old foes Worthing. The match began with a heavily aggressive attack on Worthing, with Lewes residing comfortably in their 22 for nearly ten minutes, seeing Worthing give away five penalties in that time. Scrum after scrum, Lewes were unable, however, to make that last push to the line -reminiscent of some of the troubles they faced last year.
The fatigued forwards struggled on until a penalty allowed Worthing to send their number 13 across the field through a hole in what had been a strong back line, and score the first try of the match.
Although unable to convert, Worthing managed to acquire some real confidence and swiftly scored a successive try.
At half time Lewes knew they needed to start attacking again - some incredible scrums meant they stole the ball time after time; returnee Kate Egginton hit some massive tackles, and drove through three Worthing forwards on one occasion! The backs held their line and were able to ship that ball quickly out to the wing, driving Worthing further and further back. Following a couple of tremendous drives by the forwards led by a stalwart Aimee Day, the Worthing defensive line was sucked in, allowing an immaculate try scored by our very own one-armed-bandit, Heather Shaw, brilliantly supported by the centres.
Worthing, very much displeased with this demonstration of Lewes-style teamwork, sent their backs through a slightly disjointed Lewes line, chased only by the two second rows. A try was scored despite the number 4's hands being somewhere between the ground and the ball.
Soon after a heated exchange between a green in the face Lucy 'Loose Legs' Stewart and the opposition winger ("Right, that's it I'm getting a try now"), she did just that, steamrolling an increasingly tired Worthing and taking another five points for Lewes. Our illustrious Captain was presented with a rather challenging conversion, and missed by mere gnat's whisker.
The game ended soon after, leaving Lewes trailing by only 7 points. However, the commitment and determination of the entire team, including those for whom this was their first or second full game (well done Cathy Arnold and Vicks Mallinson!), meant Lewes left the pitch feeling rightly proud of their work.
Tries: Lucy Stewart, Heather Shaw
The ladies are at home on 4 October for their first League game against Sutton & Epsom.
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