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23 - 24 January match reports
28th January 2010

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Seniors

Saturday 23 January 2010

(Bad) luck of the draw

Bromley vs Lewes
Score: 23 - 23
Report by Dereck Wade
Photographs: Alan Page
Not having played since 12 December due to the severe winter conditions, Lewes were bound to take some time to get back into the swing of things, and so it proved in this error-strewn match which saw both sides make a series of unforced mistakes. Although Lewes’ pack were superior in the scrum throughout, Bromley’s backs were the more incisive – especially their fast-running and elusive full-back – but nevertheless the visitors will regard this as the loss of a point in a match they really should have won comfortably.

In perfect conditions, Lewes were penalised for offside after only one minute, enabling the host`s scrum-half, Tom Claridge, to kick over to see his side open the scoring at 3 – 0. But Lewes hit back 4 minutes later; after attacking from inside their own half, the ball was moved wide left into Bromley`s half, and a swift pass to the bind-side saw prop-forward Steve Andre sprint some 35 metres to the line for the first try of the match. With fly half Rocky Matatumua slotting over the conversion, Lewes took a deserved lead at 3 – 7.

On 14 minutes, however, the gap was narrowed to 6 – 7 after another penalty against the visitors for going over the top, again kicked over by Claridge. A penalty to Lewes some 2 minutes later restored the difference at 6 – 10 when Matatumua kicked over from 30 metres out.

The next quarter of the match saw Lewes dominate, restricting Bromley to inside their own half for long periods. But in a rare visit into Lewes`s half on 34 minutes, the visitors were yet again penalised, this time for not rolling away from the ball. Although Claridge missed the resultant kick, Lewes`s second-row forward, Chris Brant, was sin-binned for the offence, meaning that his side were temporarily reduced to 14 men. Bromley took full advantage of this, as just before the half-time whistle , a good attack was rounded off by their full-back, Kieran Leeper, who came into the line to score a fine, but unconverted, try to see Bromley go in at the break with a slender 11 – 10 lead.

At this point, Lewes – with the slope in their favour and a superior pack – expected to eventually overwhelm their opponents – which they may well have done but for a bizarre sequence of events in the opening three minutes of the second half. Almost from the re-start, Bromley hacked the ball forward to within Lewes`s in-goal area, for winger Steve Mills to clearly touch down the ball dead. But Bromley`s left-winger, Mike Addenya, was following up and he managed to place a hand on what was by then a loose ball. Although some considerable distance from the action, the referee – to almost everyone`s astonishment (including Bromley’s) – awarded the try, which Claridge converted. Mills was yellow-carded for his outspoken criticism of this perverse decision.
Two minutes later this sequence of events was repeated, with Adeenya again being given the benefit of the doubt, but this time Claridge missing the conversion. So in the space of only a few seconds, Lewes went from 11 – 10 down to 23 - 10 and now faced an uphill struggle if they were to gain anything from the match.

To their credit, they stuck at the task and on 47 minutes reduced the arrears to 23 – 13 with a penalty from Matatumua. The next five minutes saw a series of Lewes scrums near Bromley`s try-line, and this pressure was rewarded when back-row forward Rupert Arbuthnot touched down for a well-worked push-over try to make it 23 – 18, with the resultant conversion unfortunately sliding wide of the posts.

The last 20 minutes was all Lewes but they were unable to convert this clear dominance into points until one minute from the whistle, when flanker Tom Tudor forced his way over for the last try of the match. Crucially, what would have been the winning kick shied just the wrong side of the upright, meaning that, instead of the win they probably deserved, Lewes had to be content with the draw.

Lewes: Andre, Denslow, Williams (Mason), Brant, Lundin (Blunt), Tudor, Ridley, Arbuthnot, Terry, Matatumua, Mills, Hamer (Capt.), Bell, Halpin (Howkins), Hutchinson.

Next Saturday, Lewes make the long trip to fast-improving Deal and Betteshanger for a stiff test of their League credentials.

Note: following County trials in early January, two Lewes players – flanker Tom Tudor and winger James Halpin – have been selected for the Sussex Under 20 squad.

Eastbourne vs Lewes 3rd XV
Score: 15-14
Report by Steve Jackson
Eastbourne went off on the front foot and got a drop goal in front of the posts and went three up. Then Lewes got the game by the scruff of the neck and really put it to Eastbourne forwards resulting in no 8 Paul Johnson scoring with Lewes’ first try of the game. The game continued with Lewes No 10 putting in all the right moves . Johnson scored again after some powerful running and both tries were converted by No 10.

In the second half Easbourne came back with a vengeance, scoring a try in the corner which was successfully converted. They continued to press on and got another try which was also duly converted. Lewes, now lagging 15 – 14, decided to take hold of the game but despite piling on the pressure and putting in a lot of hard work failed to score again.

However, it was a great game and Lewes’ morale remained high. The lads are looking forward to this Saturday when they take on Crowborough away in the next League fixture.

Sunday 24 January

South East ladies regionals success

Following regional trials that took place at Gravesend Rugby Club in January, two players from Lewes ladies have succesfully made the squad. Former Lewes captain and prop Aimee Day and fly-half Heather Shaw (pictured) will be representing the South East this season. Well done ladies!

Lewes Ladies win Old Cat fight

Lewes women vs Old Caterhamians
Score: 7 - 5

Match report by Rab Willis
Another win secured at home means Lewes ladies pose a genuine threat in the league battle for top spot, despite being overtaken by Sutton & Epsom who are one game up.

Sunday's game against Old Cats was tough reminder of the lack of training due to Christmas and recent bad weather. Surprisingly though, both teams hit the ground running and didn't stop fighting til the final whistle. Lewes yet again left supporters on tenterhooks as they managed to spend so much of the game in Old Cats half but were not able to secure a score.

With the first half gone and still no points from either team, it was clear that no side could afford to let heads drop or fitness wain. Old Cats broke into the Lewes 22 after half-time and stayed there thanks to some consistently strong defending from Lewes. A hard-fought try was well deserved after ten minutes of attack on the Lewes line but was left unconverted.

Lewes battled back and some superb displays of team work ensued. Prop and forward of the match Jules Scanlan, with determination and control, won many a ball from the rucks giving the backs the opportunity to stretch their legs. Fly-half Heather Shaw and outside centre Anita Hillman both made some powerful breaks but were denied tries by the unyielding Old Cats defence.

Then the break came when Lewes pulled together at last in the attack. A series of phases first from the Lewes forwards, led with resolve by Robynne Keen and an injured Aimee Day sucked in the Old Cats forwards defence. A hardy break by Sadie Graham on the left wing was valiantly defended but left enough Old Cats backs tied up and they were unable to stop inside centre Jen "Flea" Laing from powerting through for Lewes's first and only try. Her conversion secured the lead with a quarter on the clock.

Lewes continued an aggressive attack not least from back of the match and scrum-half Sonya Da Silva, not content to leave just two points in it. With a few minutes to go, some valiant efforts offered Old Cats good opportunities but Lewes managed to stave them off. A good win for Lewes and very well deserved!

Match report by Alice Hannon
Despite warnings of more of our delightful winter severe weather, sunshine greeted Lewes and Old Caterhamians on Sunday.

After an unforeseen delay, the game began with a super opening kick-off from our Captain. It was a particularly tough first half, battling with both an extremely viscous pitch and a tight and efficient Old Cats pack.

Spirits were high, and Lewes’ defensive line was almost impenetrable, despite some fast runs from the Old Cat’s winger – Cathy ‘G-G’ Arnold and Kat Harvey managed to quash her attempts extremely successfully. The first half saw a fraught 0-0 scoreboard.

Both teams returned to the pitch for the second half with even greater aggression, and a lucky run from Old Cat’s winger secured them an unconverted try.

Lewes retaliated with some heavy scrummaging - and in an example of sublime team work, drew in Old Cat’s defense to allow Jen ‘Flea’ Laing a try right under the bars, which she confidently converted.

Old Cats’ tempers were considerably frayed by this point and after a couple of incidents involving their number 3 and our . . . well most of our team, they were unable to re-focus and add to their score.

Lewes’ first match back after Christmas demonstrated the commitment and team-work that is keeping them at the top of the league – let’s keep it up ladies!

Juniors

Sunday 24 January

Haywards Heath vs Lewes U15
Score: 40-0

A brave performance by Lewes failed to make a dent on the superior strength of HH. Lewes were three players down and had to be lent HH players. Despite the score Lewes held their heads high and it was never say die from them. Xappho Paterson was deservedly man of the match for his fearless tackling.

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