LEWES WEATHER STORM

In conditions which were as gloomy and foreboding as the ruins of Cowdray House which loom over Midhurst's pitch, Lewes's performance can best be described, as the old saying goes, as "a game of two halves". After sprinting into a five-try, bonus-point 0 - 33 lead at half time, Lewes took their foot off the pedal and, after inexplicably changing their game-plan, let the hosts back into the game, exemplified by honours being even at 12 - 12 in the second half. Nevertheless Lewes's away victory, in difficult cirumstances, sees them retain their second-place spot in the League and pull away from their nearest rivals below them.
The early pressure came from Midhurst, playing with the advantage of the slope, but with their first foray upfield, Lewes scored the opening try of the match after scooping up loose ball and then switching it swiftly along the back line for outside-half Will Tobin to touch down under the posts, centre Nick Sharp's conversion making it 0 - 7. Five minutes later, full-back Dan Wade's try, following No. 8 Mike Stubbs's strong surge upfield, and Sharp's conversion, extended the lead to 0 - 14, which soon stretched out to 0 -19 with an unconverted try by Man-of-the-Match, left-wing Henry Shiell, who had collected the defence-breaking pass from his brother Billy. Lewes's bonus-point fourth try came just four minutes later, Stubbs scoring under the posts with Sharp adding the extras to pull away at 0 - 26, and just before the half-time whistle, with Lewes now dominating possession and territory, Wade scored his second try, again converted by Sharp, to go in at the break with a healthy 0 - 33 advantage.
The second half, however, was a dour affair, and Midhurst's resurgence took only seven minutes when, following the kicking ahead of a loose ball, their left-wing Mike Carson scored his side's first but unconverted try in the left corner to claw back to 5 - 33. The next quarter saw scrappy play from both sides but on the hour, Lewes scored their first, but unconverted, try of the second half, Tobin's second, followed by another strong drive from Stubbs which enabled scrum-half Owen Jones to finish off a fine move with a try out wide left - Wade's great conversion seeing Lewes stretch their lead at this point to 5 - 45. But to Midhurst's credit, they kept to their attacking plan, which paid off when their prop-forward scored his side's second try, converted by his outside-half, to finish the game at 12 - 45.
Stubbs commented after the match: "We couldn't get into our usual rhythm and tempo today, as Midhurst disrupted us and slowed us down - especially in the second half. However, we scored some very good tries and at times looked extremely dangerous."

Lewes: - Hill, Warren, Cripps, Nayler, Blunt, Hatch, Gribble, Stubbs, Jones, W.Shiell, Hodson, Sharp, Tobin, H.Shiell, Wade. (Reps., all used: Williams, Halpin, Anthony).

Lews 2nd's lost 5 - 37 at home to a strong Plumpton 1st XV, their solitary try being scored by Luke Stronghand.

On Saturday, Lewes 1st's entertain Crowborough II's, k.o. 2.15 pm, the match being preceded by the Club's Annual Xmas Lunch (details: Terry Powell on 01273 812775), and followed by the Player's mass "Father Christmas" dinner - watch out kids!

Lewes 2nd's are away at Crowborough III's, k.o. 2.00pm.