The last time Lewes played Hove Seconds at Hove Recreation Ground was on Saturday 16th October 2021. The result that day was 19-41 to Lewes, a score not a lot dissimilar from this game which was to end in a 23-40 victory for Lewes. The Lewes squad that that was Tom Awdry; Joe Reid, Andy Carmichael, Elliot Moule, Raff Green; Angelo Errigo, Gus Taylor; Kane Dadswell, Ollie Bowery, Mo Bacha; James Sale (captain), Tom Bates; Stewart Dickens, Dom Lunnis, Kieran Morris. Subs: Lewis Austin, Jordan Whiting. Some of these were playing this time round, while quite a few others were watching from the sidelines amidst a well-populated touchline of Lewes supporters that included many former players.

It was a game of fluctuating fortunes as both teams had their moments, but once Lewes had scored their second try mid-way through the first half, they were never to relinquish their lead, despite some spirited efforts by Hove to get back into the game. Hove, indeed, had started strongly, putting the Lewes defence under pressure, and when they won the ball against the head, they took the lead with a try. The conversion struck the post, but Lewes were inspired by their new captain, Will Feltham who led the counter-attack and scored a brilliant solo try that he converted himself.

When Hove were awarded a penalty five meters out bang in front of Lewes’ posts, they went against current trends by converting it. This put them back in front at 8-7, but it was a slender lead, and one which they were not going to hang on to for too long, for Lewes put together a great attacking move that led to Louis Medhurst going over for a try against his former club. Will Feltham added the conversion which made the score 14-8 in Lewes’ favour.

Harry Carr, on the Lewes left wing, then produced an amazing piece of skill to beat the Hove defenders and score in the corner. He deliberately knocked the ball over his opposite number’s head, ran round to catch it, before speeding to the line. It was perfectly legal (as it is covered by the law that allows players to lose the ball and then grab it at the second attempt). If this was a stroke of luck for Lewes, then Hove enjoyed some of their own when a pass in a promising Lewes attack was intercepted for a length of the field try. Both these scores were converted and so the teams got to half time with the score at 21-15 to Lewes.

Hove had looked rather ragged as the first half came to an end and were certainly kept in the game by their second try. However, they really upped their game in the second half, and the question was how would spirited the Lewes team respond? Well, they kept their opponents at bay and all Hove had to show in the early exchanges was a solitary penalty goal that kept them just about in touch. This was blown away by Tom Awdry scoring the bonus point try in the corner after another slick Lewes move This time, it was Gus Taylor with the kick and his magnificent conversion brought back memories of last season’s heroics, while taking the score away from Hove at 28-18.

Hove hadn’t given up on this game, though and they forced their way back into the Lewes half and scored a try in the corner that wasn’t converted, but, nevertheless, halved the deficit. Lewes were back on the attack straight away and some fluent passing and moving resulted in a try for Jake Bowie under the posts that was reminiscent of Andy Carmichael’s three years ago. Gus Taylor, who had come on as a second half substitute, added the conversion and then rounded off the game in his own enigmatic way by grabbing the ball and sprinting down the line to outpace the Hove defence and score in the corner. Alas he was not able to complete the afternoon with the conversion but Lewes were more than happy to take the 40-23 win.

The five points from this game put Lewes at sixth place in the league table. Our next month’s opponents are top of the table Uckfield at home on the 12th, seventh placed Ditchling away on the 19th and fifth placed Crawley at home on 26th. Our sponsors play a very important part in our club, and we are looking forward to honouring them by hosting a pre-match lunch on Saturday 12th October.

Lewes team: Awdry; Carr, Feltham (captain), Bowie, Rourke: Yeates, Durrant; Norman, Martin, Gage; Sale, Coe; Weston, Medhurst, Pryor. Replacements: Coppola, Gainey, Taylor.