News & match reports

Lewes Ladies vs Canterbury
22nd January 2012
Womens - First XV
Lewes 15 - Canterbury 21

Sunday 22nd saw the home fixture of Lewes Ladies vs Canterbury Ladies in the 2nd leg of this seasons league.  Always a closely fought match, Canterbury are known for their fast, strong backs and today's match was no different when in the 1st minute of the match the Canterbury outside centre ran in a spectacular try under the posts from the halfway line leaving the Lewes backs scratching their heads. The try was converted 0-7.

Lewes returned with a stronger defence but failed to look threatening in attack. Canterbury continued their own attacks with punching runs from their well drilled forwards and from this another winding run, and missed tackles saw a 2nd try under posts, again converted 0-14. Canterbury's discipline at the break down was challenged at times with several penalties going Lewes' way; quick taps helped Lewes make ground but the score board remained the same at half time.

The 2nd half saw Lewes come out fighting harder, after a few strong words the pack really pulled together winning convincingly at both the breakdown and in the scrums and with strong runs coming from prop Julia Scanlan and number 8 Jade Carter.  The discipline and support lead to a forwards try when a tap penalty on the 5m was taken in by prop Charlotte Tucker and then passed off to Jade Carter who drove over the line for Lewes' first try.  With Lewes' heads now up a 2nd try soon followed when the ball came off the back of the scrum, again on 5m line, and by going blind winger Sadie Graham managed to bowl over her opponent to score a try in the corner, 10-14. 

Despite Lewes' come back, strong forward attack by Canterbury lead to another overlap and Canterbury 14 ran in another break away try, again converted by Canterbury Fly half whose kicking was strong throughout the match.  With 10 minutes remaining Lewes returned with stronger attack from the backs, moving the ball through the hands which eventually lead to a snake-hips try by speedy winger Jessica Forbes. 15-21 with 4 minutes to go meant Lewes needed a converted try but unfortunately with strong counter rucking from Canterbury the ball was turned over and Canterbury number 10 made sure the ball was launched into touch to end the match. 

A 15-21 win to Canterbury who were the stronger team throughout the match but with a convincing and encouraging come back from a progressively well drilled Lewes team.

Pictured: New player "Beast" Wheatley supported by Alice Hannon n the attack

Article by Sophie Kelland

Photographs by Danny Simpson

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