Lewes Colts back to winning ways vs Heathfield

Lewes Colts played host to Heathfield last Sunday. With this league becoming very competitive, as all sides struggle to have settled sides every week, this was always going to be a close game. (See video)

Although Lewes managed to keep the visitors in their half for quite a period of the first half, Heathfield managed to score a converted try after a lapse by the Lewes defence opened up a sizeable gap through the middle for the Heathfield inside centre to break through and cross the line.

The first half was littered with a number of handling errors by Lewes who also allowed Heathfield to dominate the rucks too much. With 3 minutes of the first half left Lewes decided to run a penalty as opposed to kicking for touch and having the resulting throw in. Heathfield managed to turn the ball over from an isolated run and ruck to make the last few minutes a period of tense defence by Lewes as opposed to keeping their opponents in their own 22.

Lewes were somewhat more incisive after the break. Against a tiring Heathfield they began to get the ascendant. 10 minutes after the restart a good break from the right hand side saw the ball worked out along the Lewes line to Tom Tudor, who had just come on, to run the ball on to cross the line in the left hand corner. The attempted conversion failed.

Heathfield did try to rally and Lewes found it tough to create any real penetration. With 9 minutes left a kick from Heathfield created a ruck down near the right touch line on the half way line. Henry Lake managed to get to the ball on the ground and popped it to George Page who had come off his wing to pass inside to Fergal McAleer. From there the ball was worked out into the centre of the pitch where James Halpin was able to find some space to weave through the Heathfield defence to score under the posts. Jon Pitts converted.

Although Heathfield gamely tried to get back into the game they could not get past Lewes again who hung on to win the game 12 – 7.