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Sat 29 Sep 2018 ·  London 3 South East
Hastings & Bexhill
1st XV
38
22
LEWES BLOW HALF-TIME LEAD
DERECK Wade2 Oct 2018 - 08:46
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DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT FOR BELOW-PAR LEWES
In spite of missing several players for this key local derby, things looked rosy for Lewes at half-time with a healthy 10 - 22 lead, stunning the home side with two quick-fire tries just before the break. That early optimism was not rewarded in the second half, however, as the home side became increasingly dominant.
Hastings put the first points on the board with a converted try after 10 minutes, but the visitors hit back with one from flanker Nathan Lowen after two quick tap penalties from scrum-half Gus Taylor. Two crushing tackles from full-back Dan Wade halted promising attacks from Hastings, and then a sweeping counter-attack by Lewes saw right-winger Billy Shiell step outside his man to score in the corner. Hastings replied with a similar try to their opening score, outflanking the visitors wide out. With 3 minutes to go before the half-time break, Lewes's narrow 10 -12 advantage looked certain, but Dan Wade's burst from half-way and Henry Shiell's hack through garnered another 2 unconverted tries to give Lewes a convincing 10 - 22 advantage at the whistle.
Hastings changed their tactics in the second half, using their bigger pack of forwards to limit Lewes's possession and made their way patiently upfield as a result. They were rewarded with a try from a rolling maul on 53 minutes which was converted to make it
17 - 22, and took the lead at 24 - 22 only three minutes later, capitalising on a dislodged ball in the tackle to launch a successful counter-attack, ending with a converted try. Although Lewes had opportunities to regain the lead, their decision-making let them down and Hastings finished the match in storming fashion with a brace of converted tries in the last five minutes to run out worthy winners by 38 - 22; Lewes's only consolation from a disappointing performance being their losing bonus-point for scoring 4 tries.
Lewes will have to up their game considerably when they face promotion hopefuls Bromley at the Stanley Turner Ground on Saturday, k.o. 3.00pm.
With a depleted side due to 1st XV call-ups, Lewes 2nd's travelled to Hellingly and were soundly beaten by 45 - 20, their points coming via tries from James Durrant, Owen Edwards, and Jordan Whiting (pictured) , with Dan Billin slotting over a penalty and a conversion.
Hastings put the first points on the board with a converted try after 10 minutes, but the visitors hit back with one from flanker Nathan Lowen after two quick tap penalties from scrum-half Gus Taylor. Two crushing tackles from full-back Dan Wade halted promising attacks from Hastings, and then a sweeping counter-attack by Lewes saw right-winger Billy Shiell step outside his man to score in the corner. Hastings replied with a similar try to their opening score, outflanking the visitors wide out. With 3 minutes to go before the half-time break, Lewes's narrow 10 -12 advantage looked certain, but Dan Wade's burst from half-way and Henry Shiell's hack through garnered another 2 unconverted tries to give Lewes a convincing 10 - 22 advantage at the whistle.
Hastings changed their tactics in the second half, using their bigger pack of forwards to limit Lewes's possession and made their way patiently upfield as a result. They were rewarded with a try from a rolling maul on 53 minutes which was converted to make it
17 - 22, and took the lead at 24 - 22 only three minutes later, capitalising on a dislodged ball in the tackle to launch a successful counter-attack, ending with a converted try. Although Lewes had opportunities to regain the lead, their decision-making let them down and Hastings finished the match in storming fashion with a brace of converted tries in the last five minutes to run out worthy winners by 38 - 22; Lewes's only consolation from a disappointing performance being their losing bonus-point for scoring 4 tries.
Lewes will have to up their game considerably when they face promotion hopefuls Bromley at the Stanley Turner Ground on Saturday, k.o. 3.00pm.
With a depleted side due to 1st XV call-ups, Lewes 2nd's travelled to Hellingly and were soundly beaten by 45 - 20, their points coming via tries from James Durrant, Owen Edwards, and Jordan Whiting (pictured) , with Dan Billin slotting over a penalty and a conversion.
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