LEWES BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE!

After last week's disappointment, Lewes returned to form with a stunning bonus-point win over London-based rivals Dunstonians, scoring 7 tries in a display which - with the inclusion of several key players missing from their first encounter - saw Lewes revert to their attacking flair of last season.
It took the home side only 3 minutes to open the scoring at 7 - 0 after an early attack by the visitors broke down, enabling left-winger Tom Petty to intercept the ball and run fully 75 metres before touching down under the posts, full-back Jon Pitts's slotting over the conversion. Five minutes later Dunstonian's outside-half Mike Newby kicked over a penalty to narrow the gap to 7 - 3, but Lewes reacted from the re-start by catching clean ball before spinning it out to the backs for outside-centre Will Feltham to score under posts, Pitts adding the extras to go further ahead at 14 - 3.
The next half-an-hour saw play evenly balanced as Lewes's attacks broke down due to lost ball and Dunstonians' being thwarted by disciplined Lewes defence. The deadlock broke on 31 minutes when the Kent side won a line-out near the right corner, enabling their No. 8 Rees Boysier to touch down for his side's first try of the match, Newby kicking over the conversion to get within reach at 14 - 10. But just before the half-time break, Lewes restored their advantage at 19 - 10, a searing attack by inside-centre Dan Wade through Dunstonian's defence line being rounded-off by flanker Eliot Moule scoring a great team try, Pitt's converting.
On 53 minutes, Dunstonians scored what was to be their only points of the second half, centre Jamal Gobir touching down after a strong forwards drive for an unconverted try to make it 19 - 15. At this stage, the large band of Lewes supporters hoped that last-week's events - when a half-time lead resulted in nothing - would not repeat themselves, and so it turned out as Lewes turned on the style in the second half, with a flair and confidence which saw them dominate possession and territory for the remainder of the match. It took them only another 6 minutes to draw away at 24 - 15, outside-half Billy Shiell scoring Lewes's fourth, bonus-point try, but unconverted, and five minutes later a great shove by the Lewes pack saw them win the ball for it to be passed out to Wade for a fine try under the posts, Pitts converting, to extend the lead to 31 - 15.
Further tries were then added by Pitts himself and Shiell's second, with one conversion by Pitts, to see Lewes run out deserved winners by 43 - 15 - a result which sees them move up to mid-table in the League.
Coach Chris Roberts commented after the match:
"I was delighted with the performance today. We did not play much differently to last week but the major difference being our decision-making under pressure was tremendous; whether that be running from our own line or kicking to apply pressure. Tackle completion was high up on our agenda, and the opposition style meant we had to deliver, and did, forcing numerous errors. The margin of victory flattered us a bit due to opposition injuries but there was no doubt that we we were the better side on the day.
I was particularly pleased to see the 2nd XV romp to their second victory on the trot!"
Lewes: Irvine, Warren, Raynor, Lowen, Blunt, Moule, Hatch, Morgan, Veasy, Shiell, Halpin (Capt.), Wade, Feltham, Petty, Pitts. (Reps., all used: - Hill, Roberts, Brooker).
On Saturday, Lewes make the long away to trip to Thanet Wanderers - always a difficult encounter.

Lewes 2nd's bright start to the season continued with a stunning 74 - 0 home victory over League newcomers, Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents, scoring 6 tries in the first half and 8 in the second. On Saturday, the 2's entertain Heathfield 3rd's. at the Stanley Turner Ground, k.o. 3.00pm.