Lewes lose to knock-on Lordswood

The Lewes 1stXV showed great endeavor and enthusiasm throughout this hard fought match but came up just short to lose by 11 v 12 largely due to the referee missing a huge knock-on by the visitors just before they scored their second try. 

On a bright but chilly day Lewes started well and pressurised the visitors into giving away a penalty fairly early on which was comfortably kicked with the aid of a strong breeze by centre Nick Sharp.  Also after some good pressure Flyhalf Charlie Terry popped over a dropped goal.  Play was evenly matched from here on for the rest of the half in what was a tough and hard fought game for both sides. It was fairly late in the first half when Lordswood scored their first try from a period of pressure and a forward drive. The conversion missed to leave the scores very close at 6 v 5 to Lewes at the break. 

Lewes had been playing with the strong breeze at their backs. Turning round with only one point to the good was always going to be difficult to defend and so it proved but not without a little good fortune going the visitors’ way. Lordswood broke through the Lewes line near halfway and raced for the line but were brilliantly tackled about 15 metres out by full-back Dan Wade and knocked on in the process. To the dismay of the home side and their supporters it seemed the only person that didn’t see it was the ref who allowed play to continue and Lordswood to score. The conversion was good.

Lewes now had what seemed like a mountain to climb as back row David Edmed was sin binned for hands in the ruck following a series of penalties going against us and time was running out for a fight back. To their credit the Lewes XV took it to the visitors and from concerted pressure worked their way up field. Some good runs from deep by replacement full-back Will Bell were a feature. From a lineout the Lewes pack drove the heavier visitors back over their line to score a dogged try. It was Rob Williams, the replacement prop, who emerged from the bottom of the pile to claim the try on only his second appearance for the team.

In an almost identical end to the previous time the two sides met when Lewes lost by 2 points the Lewes kicker stepped up to take the shot at goal 2 mins from time and in to the strong breeze. Unfortunately it was not to be and the final score remained at 11 v 12 to the visitors.

Despite the loss it was a good gutsy display and one where the team showed significant improvement at the breakdown compared to the first time the two sides met but the penalty count was dissappointing. Next week the 1stXV squad travel to Sevenoaks.