Lewes RFC

This was only the second league game of the season, and Lewes were hoping to return to their main pitch as the repair of the broken goalposts had been completed. However, the erection of a wooden perimeter fence around the Stanley Turner Ground put paid to this, as it was put up too close to the pitch and compromised player safety.

This meant that the game had to be played on the training pitch which was bad news for the club as it received a good battering in the pouring rain. However, the good news for Lewes was that they had selected a starting fifteen with an average age of 23. It was only a shame that the incessant rain denied this bright Lewes side the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a large crowd who were greatly missing the shelter of the grandstand.

It was Eastbourne, though, who took an early lead when they slotted a penalty goal. However, they were not to add to this score as Lewes swept back upfield. Lewes were awarded a penalty in this attack, but decided to go for a tap and go which led to a try from Harry Rees. There was a lot of scrappy play at this point as the weather worsened, and both sides lost a player to a yellow card.

Just before half time, Lewes increased the pressure on the Eastbourne defence and Jordy Smith set up a try for Jack Soltermann in the left-hand corner. This left the half time score at 10-3 to Lewes as both players and spectators made a hasty retreat to the shelter of the clubhouse.

It was the strength of the Lewes scrum that was to prove the dominant force in the second half, with debutant, Alfie Green, doing a sterling job at tight head. And it was from a scrum that Raf Green found space in the centre to break through to notch Lewes’ third try that Smith converted to make the score 17-3.

All that was left to be determined was whether Lewes could land a bonus point try. It was hard work as putting together fluent moves in these conditions wasn’t easy, and, to their credit, Eastbourne remained dogged opponents all the way through. Eventually it was Lewes stalwart, Tom Petty who drove forward through the wet and the wind to secure the bonus point try that keeps Lewes in touch with joint leaders, Pulborough and East Grinstead in the league table.

Smith completed the conversion which left the final score at 24-3. Lewes’ next fixture is away at Ditchling on 29^th November. Two weeks later on 13^th December Lewes will be hosting Seaford and holding a Pre-Match Lunch. Hopefully we shall back on the main pitch then, for the training pitch will ned a lot of looking after following this game.

Lewes team: Soltermann; Goode, Green (captain), Harvey,; Smith, Lacy; Dadswell, Simmonds, Thomas; Brooker, Bradford; Rees, Taylor, Medhurst. Replacements: Tepi, Petty, Benson.