News & match reports
6-7 March Senior match report
8th March 2010
Lewes men vs Old Dunstonians >>
Lewes women vs Marlow >>
Senior men
Lewes 1st XV vs Old Dunstonians
Score: 27 - 10
Match report by Dereck Wade
Images by Danny Simpson and Jez King
In sunny but cold conditions, Lewes – playing in their changed strip of plain grey due to a clash of colours – gained revenge against the Old Boys, who had defeated them fairly comfortably in November. This was a classic game of two halves – Lewes dominating the first, but the visitors making a come-back in the second, only for the home side to finish with a flourish near the end to see them run out comfortable winners and move up to equal-fourth in the League.
In spite of the opportunity for open rugby, neither side seemed able to establish any rhythm or consistency in their game, and as a result the match was somewhat scrappy throughout. Matters were not helped by a whistle-happy referee, some of whose decisions were equally bewildering to both sides.
The first quarter was uneventful except for a successful penalty by Dunstonian`s fly-half Holiday, who kicked his side into the lead at 0 –3. Lewes finally began to exert some sustained pressure and on 25 minutes, flanker Rupert Arbuthnot burst from a ruck from 10 metres out to score near the posts. Fly-half Rocky Matatumua slotted over the conversion to make it 7 – 3 to the Sussex side.
Despite spurning some overlaps in good scoring positions, a fine aggressive run from skipper Ben Hamer down the right ended with a fine but unconverted try to put Lewes further ahead at 12 – 3 .
What looked like a comfortable advantage was quickly dispelled when, following two very questionable referring decisions, Lewes allowed Dunstonian`s left winger, McKillop, to dance his way through some sloppy tackling to score in the corner for a try, converted by Holiday, to see the visitors pullback to 12 – 10 just before the half-time whistle.
Five minutes into the second half, Matatumua kicked a penalty from 30 metres out for a 15 – 10 advantage. But the visitors then began to get the better of the exchanges and caused the home defence some problems as a result. However, Lewes re-gained the initiative when Dunstonian`s lock-forward Smith was sin-binned for interfering with play. His absence resulted in a series of drives from short range by the Lewes pack, ending with replacement prop-forward James Read forcing his way over for his first try for the 1st. team; although Matatumua missed the conversion, Lewes were now in a comfortable lead at 20 – 10.
It was not until the final minutes, however, that Lewes produced their best handling move of the match with a break down the blind side, followed by slick inter-passing for scrum half Charlie Terry to round off the move with a fine try under the posts, converted by Matatumua for a 27 – 10 win which makes it 5 in all, plus 1 draw and I only defeat since the Christmas break.
Lewes: Andre, Mason, Williams (Read), Gorbell, Brant, Arbuthnot, Tudor (Blunt), Ridley, Terry, Matatumua, Mills, Hamer (Capt.), Sharp, Halpin, Hutchinson (Rep. Lundin).
On Saturday, Lewes hope to make it a hat-trick of home wins on the trot when they entertain KCS Old Boys, k.o.3.00pm.
Senior women
Lewes Women vs Marlow
Score: 17 – 17
Match report by Rab Willis
Images by Nigel Martin (with many thanks!)
A reorganised Lewes side met Marlow at home on a gloriously sunny Sunday with a biting wind against them. Recently having suffered a loss of regular players through injury and work commitments, Lewes's focus was not entirely set for confrontation. Despite some good early runs, only Jen “Flea” Laing managed to equalise the board in the first half with a powerful run from the centre. Around this, some scrappy rucking allowed many a turnover ball and opportunities that Marlow did not squander. In the second half, the play did pick up as both sides began to battle it out in a good old-fashioned game of rugby. Unfortunately some very questionable decisions from the referee left Lewes with 2 disallowed tries and a penalty try against them.
Moments of brilliance came in the last quarter when Lewes showed the real power behind a team unfazed by the challenges of difficult decisions and proved that it remains a team of talent and versatility. Unfortunately it was not quite enough to secure the win. The second try actually given to Lewes was off a perfectly executed scrum to fly half, Rab Willis, who was determined nothing should get in her way. Then came another superb piece of team play by the forwards who, having mauled the ball 15 metres up the pitch, set number 2 Jade Carter up to power over the line. Unfortunately the try was mysteriously not seen by the referee standing by and disallowed. Jade made up for it in the last few minutes, just as determined, when second-row Carol Moore tapped an opposition line out ball into her hands and she smoothly scored in the corner.
Pictured above: Lucy Stewart making ground in her first game as scrum-half.
Lessons were learnt on Sunday but mostly Lewes proved that they can hold their heads high in the face of adversity and stay together as a team. With some hard fought points won through good rugby, Lewes takes forward the fight to Guildford at home next week. Kick off at 1pm.
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