Lewes RFC

Pulborough are certainly the best team in Sussex Counties 2, and should go on to win the league and gain promotion next week. So, Lewes took great pride from their best performance of the season in this game which took their hosts right down to the wire. There was an underlying reason for the way in which they played the match, for they were saying goodbye to their ace fly half, Jordy Smith, who returns to his native New Zealand this week, after making such a big difference to the team throughout the season.

There was a strong wind blowing down the pitch and Lewes had the advantage of it in the first half. This enabled Lewes to attack deep into the Pulborough half, and when they were awarded penalty kicks, the sensible thing was to pile up points on the board. The reliable Jordy Smith was able to score three penalty goals during the half, but Pulborough are a classy side and there was danger every time they attacked. They scored two tries, but both were wide out and conversions from that area of the pitch were well-nigh impossible under the conditions. 

Lewes were able to score a try of their own, though, when Harry Carr charged down a defensive clearance and went through to touch down. A sudden short sharp hail storm arrived just as Smith was taking the conversion, and this left the score on 10-14 at half time. Lewes knew they would have to soak up a lot of Pulborough pressure as they turned round to face the wind in the second half. 

And, sure enough, Pulborough used their dominance in the set scrum to obtain a pushover try as the half began. That try was converted, but the next one was scored further out and so their lead was now 22-14. Lewes knew that their best chance was to forsake their first half kicking game and keep the ball in hand as much as possible. This was where their outstanding midfield trio of Smith, Goode and Green starting to display their magical moves, and from one attack, it was the skipper, Raf Green, who scored a try that was close enough to the posts for Smith to convert. 

This brought the scores close together at 22-21, and perhaps it was Pulborough’s turn to be concerned as they were going to need more than their try bonus point if they were to maintain their promotion push. It was a big long kick downfield that relieved the tension and from the subsequent play, a fifth try, that was well converted stretched their lead. But Lewes hadn’t finished yet either and Ben Goode scored in the corner to pull the score back to 29-26. The game ended with Lewes defending desperately to preserve their losing bonus point, but Pulborough could not break through and were happy with the win that will take them on to next week. 

Next week, Lewes will close their season with a home match at the Stanley Turner to bottom club Crawley. They are still in sixth place, but have a points difference of -1, having scored 377 points, but conceded 378. Perhaps they will be able to get back into credit after this game. It will give Lewes supporters the chance to cheer on coach Sean Sayers and his valiant team for one last time before the season ends and summer arrives. 

Lewes team: Soltermann; Benson. R. Green (captain), Goode, Carr; Smith, Moore; Thomas, Simmonds, Raynor; Sale, Petty; Henshaw, Taylor, Weston, Dadswell. Replacements: A. Green, Hutchings.