‘Oaks felled by Lewes on wet ‘n windy day

On a cold, wet and windy day Lewes took to their home field to face Sevenoaks and ran out worthy winners by 24 v 15. The conditions played a large part in the game where forward play, kicking and dropped balls were the order of the day for both sides. In the opening exchanges play ebbed and flowed with Sevenoaks scraping a dropped goal off the crossbar to go 0 v 3 up after about 8 mins. Photos from Sevenoaks

But, right from the start Lewes looked the brighter side and continued to play exciting rugby at pace. Then a touch of class from Dan, Wardey, Wade when he stuck up a high hanging kick down the left hand touchline to run 30 metres and leap like a gazelle to gather it. From the resulting breakdown they were rewarded with their first try following a storming break by captain Ben, the aussie, Hamer who ran 30 yards to complete the unconverted try. The score stayed at 5 v 3 for some time when Sevenoaks broke through the Lewes defence from the side of a ruck about 40 metres out to run in a converted try to make the score 5 v 10 at half-time. 

Going in to the break it was clear from the body language that the Lewes XV could scent victory and were determined to maintain their focus and attitude in the second half.

Then came a scintillating break from a scrum 30 metres out by No8 Rupert Arbuthnot who went on to  slide over the line in the mud for a fine try which was converted by centre Lee, kiwi, Stewart. The pressure was all on Sevenoaks. From further concerted pressure by the pack Lewes were awarded a penalty about 5 metres out which quick thinking Wardey tapped and went to score near the posts on the right. Lewes were clearly on top of their game.

Then Lewes pressed home their advantage by scoring their 4th try through the deft handling of several of their backs, who had played and defended magnificently, to send in Wardey once again under the posts for a converted try to make the score 24 v 10.

It was at this point that the team became aware that Wardey’s other hobby was Bird-Watching. Because as he ran under the posts to score, the Twitcher raised his right arm straight and pointed high in to the sky with a happy face on. We can only assume he had spotted one of his favourite rare birds flying overhead. Strange but true.

Time was running out for Sevenoaks but to their credit in the last 5 mins they raised their game and managed to score an unconverted try in the left hand corner to leave the final score at 24 v 15.

This was a fine display by the whole Lewes squad in what were atrocious conditions.  Full credit must be given to the the Lewes 8 who dominated the scrums and whose back-row trio of Ben Hamer, Rupert Arbuthnot and Nick Giles were awesome in both attack and defence. Next week we are away to Lordswood. 

Squad (all played):- Matt Bellenie, Henry Harris-Hall, Paddy Delaney, Robbie Rugman, Chris Gorbell, Ben Hamer (Capt), Rupert Arbuthnot, Nick Giles, Sam Jones, Lee Stewart, Chris Eden, Nick Sharp, Steve Mills, Andy Freshwater, Dan Wade, Eugene Gerrard, Charlie Terry and Kenny Ford.