Back
Sat 08 Sep 2018 · London 3 South East
Pulborough
1st XV
35
31
INJURY-HIT LEWES GAIN 2 BONUS POINTS
DERECK Wade12 Sep 2018 - 10:13
Share via
DEFEAT IN FIRST LEAGUE MATCH OF SEASON
With eight regular 1st XV players missing due to injuries and unavailability, this match away to Pulborough - who were relegated from the higher-ranking London League 2 last season - was always going to be a tough first league outing for Lewes. In spite of a good start, an early injury to influential full-back Dan Wade - who had to attend hospital for treatment - temporarily upset Lewes's rhythm and balance, allowing the hosts back into the game. A late rally by the visitors almost saw them snatch a victory, but at least they returned home with 2 losing bonus points which may prove critical at the end of the season.
Lewes opened the scoring after 5 minutes up through Luke Robinson’s unconverted try, but then - some 8 minutes later, came the injury incident which held up play for some 20 minutes. Notwithstanding the changes required to their team as a result, Lewes went on to score two more similar tries to the first – mauling from line outs through Harry Cripps and Matthew Blunt, both being converted by Abe Bredin, to make the score 0 - 19.
After that, the match swung very much against Lewes as the front row came under pressure and their half backs’ decision-making suffered as a result. Pulborough took advantage accordingly, enabling them to claw their way back into the game.
Firstly their winger, Simon Burfiend, scored in the corner, and then their captain, Oliphant Hope-Frazer, crossed over nearer the posts and converted his own try to make the score 12 - 19 at half time.
Lewes made some changes in the forwards at half time, bringing on Claudio Cosimetti for Harry Cripps and Charlie Cowling for Lewis Evans, but the second half started badly for the away team, as a weak defensive kick from the Pulborough kick off was capitalised on by full back, Nicholas Haynes, whose try put his team in touching distance at 17 - 19. Worse was to come when an injury to the Lewes fly half, Abe Bredin, enabled Pulborough to gain a turnover and put their number eight, Harrison Short, in for a try under the posts, thus going into the lead at 24 - 19, as Hope-Frazer added the conversion.
Hope-Frazer stretched the Pulborough lead to 30 - 19 with two penalties, but not until strong running by the Lewes wingers, Billy Shiell and Harry Hanley had given the away supporters hope that Lewes could get back into the game. This attacking enterprise was rewarded when a set of rolling mauls from a line out near the Pulborough line resulted in a yellow card for Pulborough’s Oscar Gravell. A reshuffle in the Lewes forwards, with Cripps and Evans returning to the fray in place of Mo Bacha and Fraser Warren, then freshened up the approach, and a gap was opened up down the left wing for Ben Booth to get over for an unconverted try to make it 30 - 24.
However, straight from the kick-off Pulborough restored their eleven-point lead when an uncharacteristic piece of mishandling on Lewes's try-line led to a clever cross-kick from the resultant scrum that was caught by centre Oliver Burnett who then had the simple task of flopping over the line to see his side go further ahead at 35 - 24. But Lewes were not finished, and Luke Robinson capped an impressive performance by going over for his second and his side’s fifth try, which Billy Shiell converted, to make the score nail-bitingly close at 35-31.
With just a four point difference and ten tries already scored in the game, there was a frenetic ending to this pulsating match as Lewes pressed for a winner. A penalty in the Pulborough 22 gave Lewes hope, but then they were penalised at the tackle, and the tap penalty was kicked into touch to end the contest.
Lewes must now re-gather themselves for their match on Saturday, away to local rivals Crowborough, k.o. 3.00pm.
Lewes: Bacha, Warren, Cripps, Evans, Blunt, Moule (Capt.), Robinson, Hatch, Taylor, Bredin, Hanley, Booth, Feltham, W. Shiell, Wade.(Reps., all used: Cosimetti, Cowling, Roberts).
Lewes 2nd. XV had a bright start to the new season with a 50 – 14 point League victory over Crawley.
In a great game, Crawley recovered in the second half and, as a result, both sides got a lot out of an entertaining match .
Lewes points were scored from tries by James Durrant (2), Sam Hewitt (2), Jamie Austen, Joe Terry (plus 1 drop goal), and Calvin Jansz, with 6 conversions from Dan Billin.
Lewes opened the scoring after 5 minutes up through Luke Robinson’s unconverted try, but then - some 8 minutes later, came the injury incident which held up play for some 20 minutes. Notwithstanding the changes required to their team as a result, Lewes went on to score two more similar tries to the first – mauling from line outs through Harry Cripps and Matthew Blunt, both being converted by Abe Bredin, to make the score 0 - 19.
After that, the match swung very much against Lewes as the front row came under pressure and their half backs’ decision-making suffered as a result. Pulborough took advantage accordingly, enabling them to claw their way back into the game.
Firstly their winger, Simon Burfiend, scored in the corner, and then their captain, Oliphant Hope-Frazer, crossed over nearer the posts and converted his own try to make the score 12 - 19 at half time.
Lewes made some changes in the forwards at half time, bringing on Claudio Cosimetti for Harry Cripps and Charlie Cowling for Lewis Evans, but the second half started badly for the away team, as a weak defensive kick from the Pulborough kick off was capitalised on by full back, Nicholas Haynes, whose try put his team in touching distance at 17 - 19. Worse was to come when an injury to the Lewes fly half, Abe Bredin, enabled Pulborough to gain a turnover and put their number eight, Harrison Short, in for a try under the posts, thus going into the lead at 24 - 19, as Hope-Frazer added the conversion.
Hope-Frazer stretched the Pulborough lead to 30 - 19 with two penalties, but not until strong running by the Lewes wingers, Billy Shiell and Harry Hanley had given the away supporters hope that Lewes could get back into the game. This attacking enterprise was rewarded when a set of rolling mauls from a line out near the Pulborough line resulted in a yellow card for Pulborough’s Oscar Gravell. A reshuffle in the Lewes forwards, with Cripps and Evans returning to the fray in place of Mo Bacha and Fraser Warren, then freshened up the approach, and a gap was opened up down the left wing for Ben Booth to get over for an unconverted try to make it 30 - 24.
However, straight from the kick-off Pulborough restored their eleven-point lead when an uncharacteristic piece of mishandling on Lewes's try-line led to a clever cross-kick from the resultant scrum that was caught by centre Oliver Burnett who then had the simple task of flopping over the line to see his side go further ahead at 35 - 24. But Lewes were not finished, and Luke Robinson capped an impressive performance by going over for his second and his side’s fifth try, which Billy Shiell converted, to make the score nail-bitingly close at 35-31.
With just a four point difference and ten tries already scored in the game, there was a frenetic ending to this pulsating match as Lewes pressed for a winner. A penalty in the Pulborough 22 gave Lewes hope, but then they were penalised at the tackle, and the tap penalty was kicked into touch to end the contest.
Lewes must now re-gather themselves for their match on Saturday, away to local rivals Crowborough, k.o. 3.00pm.
Lewes: Bacha, Warren, Cripps, Evans, Blunt, Moule (Capt.), Robinson, Hatch, Taylor, Bredin, Hanley, Booth, Feltham, W. Shiell, Wade.(Reps., all used: Cosimetti, Cowling, Roberts).
Lewes 2nd. XV had a bright start to the new season with a 50 – 14 point League victory over Crawley.
In a great game, Crawley recovered in the second half and, as a result, both sides got a lot out of an entertaining match .
Lewes points were scored from tries by James Durrant (2), Sam Hewitt (2), Jamie Austen, Joe Terry (plus 1 drop goal), and Calvin Jansz, with 6 conversions from Dan Billin.
Further reading