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5 - 6 December match reports
8th December 2009

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Seniors

Saturday 5 December

Lewes soars over Purley John Fisher

Lewes v Purley John Fisher
Score: 22 - 7
Report by Terry Powell, Chairman, Lewes RFC
Photographs by Alan Page

After four weeks of disappointing results, Lewes returned to winning ways on Saturday with a solid team performance against their Surrey visitors, which moves them two places up the League table to fifth spot.

The heavy ground conditions made progress difficult for both sides, but notable performances for Lewes from No. 8 Matt Ridley, centre Will Bell and debutante fly-half Rocky Matatumua were decisive in putting the Sussex side in the driving seat.

After an inconclusive first quarter, Lewes gained a foothold in the visitors` 22 metre area and Will Bell took advantage to make an outside break to score near the posts for the opening try, converted by Matatumua, to make it 7 – 0. This remained the score until the half-time break, despite Lewes being temporarily reduced to 14 men after Bell was yellow-carded for what appeared to be an innocuous push.

Home tensions were eased after 10 minutes into the second half as Lewes stretched their lead to 10 – 0, with a straight-forward penalty from Matatumua, who himself was sin-binned shortly after for a late tackle. Despite this, a Matt Ridley pick-up from the base of a scrum and feed to scrum-half Charlie Terry led to the best score of the game. Terry made good yardage down the touchline and then produced a beautifully weighted pass infield to winger Steve Mills who sped to the posts for a fine try on 70 minutes. Matatumua converted to see the score at 17 – 0.

A sustained driving attack then allowed Bell to squeeze over in the left-hand corner for his second, but unconverted try, to make it 22 – 0.

Lewes were now calling the shots, but a similar home attack resulted in a consolation Purley try after winger Miles Murphy intercepted near his line and then outran the defensive cover to score in front of the posts for a converted try to put some respect on the scoreboard at 22 – 7.

Although Lewes will be encouraged by this win, a marked improvement in ball retention and tackling will be required if they are to put title-challengers and local rivals Hove under pressure in next week`s away fixture (k.o. 2.15pm).

Lewes: Andre, Denslow, Lundin, Brant, Gorbell (Capt.), Arbuthnot, Wynne, Ridley, Terry, Matatumua, Mills, Tyrrell, Bell, Halpin, Hutchinson. (Reps.: Horscroft, Blunt, Freshwater).

Before the match, Lewes held their Annual Vice Presidents` Luncheon, attended by many former players and Club stalwarts. A festive Auction organised by President Kenny Gordon raised a substantial sum towards much-need Club funds.

Youth teams

Sunday 6 December

Lewes Colts kick out at Chichester

Chichester Colts V Lewes Colts
Score: 7 - 15
Report by Aidan Byrne
Photographs by Mandy Dean

The Lewes Colts’ continued their winning ways with a victory over Chichester RFC. The score could have been so much higher for Lewes but it only counts if you actually finish them off and the Lewes squad was affected by illness, injury and unavailability of key players. Because Lewes did not have a scrum half, Seb Lampard, who had once played that position in training for 10 minutes, started in that position and for someone who had never played there before he had an excellent game.

Lewes started well from the kick-off and were quickly into the face of the Chichester team. Christian Vanezi substituting as winger made a telling run on the right hand side and was bundled into touch just short of the line. Then an attack to the left of the posts saw Ryan Byrne held up over the line. In total Lewes were held up over the line four times George Dean, Josh Hillman and Theo Tyrer and were unfortunate not to score any of them. Charlie Savage was also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty try when he was pushed off the ball as he dived to touch it down. He had hacked it from outside the Chichester 22 displaying some great dribbling skills that would have made a soccer player proud. Harte, eventually, opened the score for Lewes with an excellent penalty kick from half way between the 22 and half way line. Then from a lineout on the Lewes five metre line Chichester won and were mauled back to the 22 meter line and then Danny Hemsley snaffle the ball. When it was passed along the line to the wing - Harte who decided to run. In truth it was a great solo effort, an excellent run, followed by a beautiful chip kick to beat the defenders and when the ball bounced nicely into his hands Harte was always going to score under the posts.

The second half started in the same fashion for Lewes who were again doing everything but score. Chichester we very effective at slowing the ball from rucks and mauls and while Lewes won the territorial battle they still had difficulty getting points. Only Aaron White, who had his usual marvellous game, managed to get a touchdown. Lewes spurned penalty kicking opportunities in an attempt to get a bonus point. In the last five minutes uncharacteristic confusion in the Lewes backs left a hole, which Chichester exploited, and they scored a soft converted try under the posts.

As is usual with this squad there were excellent displays from the whole team who next week are in the final of the Under 17 cup at Hove at 2:00 pm on Sunday 13th December. Your support would be very welcome.

Scorers for Lewes: Lewis Hart (1 Try, 1 Conversion, 1 Penalty), Aaron White (1 Try)

Lewes Squad: George Dean, Tom Hocking, Ishida Ryohei, Sam Rawson, Tom Pellett Tom Howell, Lockie Diplock, Stuart Diplock, Danny Hemsley, Christian Vanezi, Arron White, Charlie Savage, Josh Hillman, Lewis Harte, Seb Lampard, Theo Tyrer, Ryan Byrne, Austin Weight.

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