Lewes RFC

On Sunday 8^th March, notably International Women’s Day, the Lewes RFC Lionesses U16s saw the return of Hastings & Seaford U16s in the Sussex “Cup”.  It was a welcome return to competitive rugby for Q Thomas who made some great runs for the Lionesses.  She has been missed.  Having lost to Hove and therefore moving to the plate competition, the girls were eager to reinforce their league form with a win in the Plate competition

And disappoint, they did not.  From the kick off, the Lionesses went on the attack and they continued to do so for large swathes of the game.  A key to the Lionesses play this season has been their willingness to move the ball through the hands with support options, and today was a great exhibition of running rugby.  Lewes were not to have it all their own way, though as Hastings & Seaford fought well in defence and when they had the ball in hand, they too liked to move it through the hands.  Both teams had pace in the back three and centres who could break the line with hard running.

Both scrum-halves were feisty, but Lewes had scrum dominance which put Hastings & Seaford on the back foot at some of the set-pieces.  The front row and pack played an outstanding game, providing a platform for the backs to enjoy some running rugby for the first time this year.

In the league, the game against the same opposition was a little one-sided.  Hastings and Seaford have worked hard on their breakdown and the backs moves and today it really showed.  There was competition at the breakdown, helped by a firm pitch and a willingness from both sides to ruck.  Lewes seemed to have better tactical awareness, for example the No8 pick and go from a scrum on the H&S five-metre line leading to a converted try; kicking for touch when sensible and quick tap penalties when the opposition defence were napping.  A lot of things the coaches have been working on in training fell into place, but at each phase, Hastings and Seaford were there, competing for the ball, tackling and rucking, making the Lionesses work hard for their win. 

Final Score 52-5.

Tries for L Moffat (2), L Parker-Phillipson (2), A Bellwood (1), E Campbell (1), L McEntee (1) and C Bains (1) with Conversions by C Bains (6).

Team: E Campbell, L Moffat, I Curd, L Parker-Philipson, I Stanger-Mitchell, C Bains, T Moore, L McEntee, E Woods, L Turner, E Soracchi, Q Thomas, G Barnard-Pierce, F Myers