We werea bit rusty today, especially in the first half. Once we got a few tries on the board and settled back into our game plan, we showed glimpses of how we can play. We got the job done and are delighted with another 5 points

- Mike Stubbs, Player/Coach

In blustery conditions at the Stanley Turner Ground, Lewes' fine run of successes continued on Saturday as they fought off initial pressure from the visitors to run out winners by 53-3, a result which, with promotion rivals Haywards Heath's game being postponed, sees Lewes go to the top of Sussex Spitfire League 1.

Kicking off into the wind, Lewes started briskly but it was Horsham who opened the scoring with a penalty after only five minutes, kicked over by their full-back to take an early 0-3 lead. As it turned out, this proved to be the visitor's only score of the match, as Lewes settled into their normal rhythm and began to dominate both possession and territory. They went into the lead 5-3 after five minutes when Player-Coach Mike Stubbs crashed over near the posts following a strong run down the left-wing by scrum-half Henry Tagg, altough the head-wind thwarted centre Nick Sharp's conversion attempt. Lewes's second, unconverted, try came after 21 minutes, second-row Nathan Lowen finishing off a surging run to put his side 10-3 up, a lead which extended to 15-3 on the half-hour with a try wide out left by full-back Dan Wade after good attacking play between forwards and backs. Just before half-time, Lewes's advantage stretched to 20-3 with Lowen's second - and his side's bonus point - try, which Sharp narrowly failed to convert.

The second half saw Lewes' domination continue, as they added further tries from Man-of-the-Match Wade, replacement flanker Matt Blunt, a second from Stubbs, and one apeice from outside-half Billy Shiell and second-row Tom Creed. A conversion from Sharp and 3 from Tagg saw the hosts run out comfortable winners by 53-3.

Stubbs commented after the match: "We werea bit rusty today, especially in the first half. Once we got a few tries on the board and settled back into our game plan, we showed glimpses of how we can play. We got the job done and are delighted with another 5 points".

Lewes: Williams, Warren, Hill, Creed, Lowen, Hatch, Fuse, Stubbs, Tagg, B Shiell, H Shiell, Sharp, Halpin (Capt), Feltham, Wade. (Reps, all used: Dean, Blunt, Tobin).

Before the kick-off, a one minute silence was held in memory of Matt Hobden, the 22 year-old Sussex County Cricketer who tragically died in a New Year's Eve incident in Scotland. Matt had played for several of Lewes RFC's Junior teams, including their successful Under 16's, and his brother Charlie is a current member of Lewes's 1st XV's squad.

On Saturday, Lewes visit Crawley for another League encounter, k.o. 2.00pm.