News & match reports
20 - 21 March match reports
22nd March 2010
Men's 1st XV match report >>
Lewes Colts vs Chichester - U18 cup win >>
Lewes U13 vs Chichester >>
More pictures >>
Seniors
Score: 12 - 13
Report by Dereck Wade
Image: Flanker Rupert Arbuthnot scores Lewes's second try
After the festival rugby of last week, Lewes were brought back down to earth with a bump on Saturday against much stiffer opposition in the form of Surrey-based side, Purley. With a heavier pack and dogged determination, the hosts eventually overhauled Lewes’ early lead and such was their amount of possession and territory in the second half that Lewes failed to score any more points in the match. Even so, it took a last-gasp conversion seconds from the end of the match for Purley to win and put an end to Lewes’ recent run of successes. In wet and slippery conditions, the early pressure came form Purley, driving Lewes to inside their own 22 metre zone. This offensive paid off after 7 minutes when Lewes were penalised for offside some 20 metres out, enabling Purley’s full-back, Dom Brown, to kick over for the opening points to lead 3 – 0.
But 4 minutes later, Lewes hit back, a fine chip over the opposition defence from scrum-half Charlie Terry resulting in right-wing Steve Mills picking the ball up at speed and then running some 40 metres for the first try of the match under the posts. With outside-half Rocky Matatumua’s conversion, Lewes went into the lead at 3 – 7. The next 10 minutes of play was uneventful, but Lewes edged further ahead at 3 – 12 after 21 minutes with an unconverted try from No. 8 Rupert Arbuthnot, following a rolling maul from the Sussex pack towards the Purley line. The rest of the half up to the whistle saw nothing of any note between the two sides.
This somewhat scrappy period of rugby continued into the opening minutes of the second half until Lewes began to force the game deep into Purley’s half, only to be thwarted by disciplined defence from the hosts. Ten minutes into the half, however, Lewes’s flanker Dylan Cossey, was yellow-carded for, according to the referee, killing the ball – even though he was inside Purley’s 5 metre area and with his team on the offensive, thereby having nothing to gain from such an alleged offence. This proved to be the turning point, as from that moment on, Purley upped a gear and began to force Lewes back inside their own half for much of the remainder of the match.
Lewes managed to cling onto their by now precarious lead with good defensive work, but this could not hold back the tide for ever and, sure enough, 3 minutes from the end they conceded a penalty on 22 metres for not releasing the ball. Brown kicked over to narrow the gap to 6 – 12, and 2 minutes later Purley got to within one point of Lewes at 11 - 12 when their forwards drove over the try line for their first, and only, try. The whole match thus depended on the conversion; Brown’s kicked wobbled and for a moment looked as though it was going to miss, but at the last the ball swerved back just inside the posts to see Purley run out winners by 13 – 12 on the final whistle.
Lewes: Andre, Mason (Lundin), Williams, Gorbell, Brant, Tudor, Arbuthnot, Cossey, Terry, Matatumua, Bell, Hamer (Capt.), Sharp, Mills, Hutchinson (Rep. not used: Ridley).
Lewes will have to up their game if they are to beat this Saturday’s opponents, local rivals and promotion hopefuls, Hove, in their last home match of the season at the Stanley Turner Ground, K.O. 3.00pm, when a good crowd is expected for what should be a fascinating encounter.
Juniors
Sunday 21 March 2010
Lewes Colts
Chichester Colts vs Lewes Colts
Score: 0 - 19
Venue: Chichester RFC
Report by Aidan Byrne
The second encounter this season between Lewes Colts and Chichester RFC was a comfortable win for Lewes Colts. Not playing at their best they still managed to beat an energetic Chichester side.
Lewes started well with some nice inter-passing and attacking rugby. They looked like they were going to put up a big score after Raff Gunn, breaking from the back of a scrum went over for a try which Hillman converted. However inexplicably the smooth running and slick passing stopped working. While the defence was excellent and Chichester did not look they were going to score the Lewes attack did not function and last passes were not going to hand.
With a strong squad Lewes made many substitutions at half time bringing on Stuart Diplock, Sam Rawson, Tom Howell, Owen Lewis, and Lewis Harte. Lewes started the second half very well and only excellent last tackling defence on the part of Chichester saw Lewes being denied two try scoring opportunities when Ishida Ryohei and Christian Vanezi nearly scored. However Theo Tyrer showed what a great starter and finisher he was when he ran from his own half, along the right hand touch-line and went through three tackles to score. Then Lewes Harte emulated this feat when he ran diagonally across the pitch and the tiring Chichester defense could not stop him as he stepped the centers and full back.
Ishida Ryohei, the Lewes Prop is returning to China after his six month placement in England. In a very nice touch he was given the conversion for the Lewis Hartes try. He did this in a fashion similar to Jonny Wilkinson (it went over the bar). He will be missed by the Lewes side for his engaging conversation and sharp repartee.
Scorers for Lewes Ishida Ryohei (1 conversion), Lewis Hart (1 try), Josh Hillman (1 conversion), Raff Gun (1 Tty), Theo Tyrer (1 try).
Lewes Squad: Tom Hocking, Ishida Ryohei, Sam Rawson, Tom Pellett, Tom Howell, Lockie Diplock, Stuart Diplock, Danny Hemsley, Christian Vanezi, Charlie Savage, Josh Hillman, Lewis Harte, Theo Tyrer, Ryan Byrne, Austin Weight, Matt Jones, Raff Gunn, Ollie Stables, Ollie Callaghan, Owen Lewes
Lewes U13s
Lewes U13s vs Chichester
Score: 19 – 7
Report by Ron Sillet (under 13s assistant coach)
It is always great for coaches when the squad puts it all together and plays a fantastic match. Lewes U13s did this on a glorious sunny Sunday morning. From the start Lewes were dominant over a much heavier pack and were stringing passes from forwards to backs giving the wings a chance to run.
Micheal Wood scored two corner tries on the right wing one being converted by Albert Harvey and the other hitting the upright. Noah Tilling on the left wing scored after a great catch from a high kick on the half way line running 40 metres, again converted by Albert Harvey.
Chichester started the second half with a lot more fight which resulted in a rolling try by their No 3 which they converted. Lewes then buckled down and held Chichester with lots of pressure in their 20 metre zone but could not quite get the ball over the line after some great play by Elliot Wiseman, captain James Mckeown, Robert Fogerty, George Richenberg and William Tidy who all missed tries by inches.
It was a great game to watch and the club deserves to stay in the first
division.
U13s squad: Rory Bines Morris, Tom Erkins, Elliot Wiseman, George Richenberg, Dan Hollis, Olli Hill, Henry Coomber, James Mceown (Capt.), Robert Fogerty, Oli Berry Hill, William Tidy, Albert Harvey, Tom Derrick, Fergus Wood, Micheal Wood, Noah Tilling.
Article by 3
More Photos >>
| Facebook