The major positive was that even though we made errors, some of the decision-making under pressure was exceptional. If the execution had been better, then a bonus point would have also been in the bank.

- Head Coach Chris Roberts

In this re-arranged floodlit match on Friday evening, Lewes scored tries in the first and last minutes to secure their fifth win of the season, a result which sees them move up one place in the League table. In the intervening 78 minutes, the rugby played by both sides was full of errors and bad decisions which produced a stop-start game of little consequence. For most of the match, Lewes were in control of affairs,largely due to the total domination of their pack in the scrums. As a result, Crawley were always on the back foot on their own put-in and rarely threatened the Lewes line. However, their spirited defence foiled concerted attacks from the visitors on numerous occasions.

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From the kick-off, Lewes re-cycled the ball and scrum-half Gus Taylor's deflected box-kick was swept up by winger Will Feltham who made ground before feeding the ball to outside-half Billy Shiell for a long burst to the posts for the opening try of the match. Inside-centre Dan Wade kicked over the conversion to open the scoring at 0-7. After 25 minutes, pressure from Crawley yielded them a successful penalty to make it 3-7, but then a yellow-card against one of the home side's players gave Lewes the opportunity to attack, forcing a penalty for themselves right on half-time which Wade slotted over to go in at the break with a 3-10 lead.

The quality of the game did not improve in the second half, and early on in the session Lewes' flanker, Toby Mills, was himself yellow-carded for an offence at a ruck. Crawley made the extra man pay off with another penalty after 52 minutes in front of the posts to enable them to draw closer at 6-10, but Lewes responded with another Wade penalty to go ahead at 6 -13. This remained the score until the final minute when flanker Sam Furse broke from a five-yard scrum to score between the posts, Wade drop-kicking the conversion to see his side run out victors by 6-20 and a welcome 4 League points.

Head Coach Chris Roberts' views on the game:

"There were moments when this game flashed into to life but for much of it, it was not even one for the purists. I don't think anyone from either side could argue that the better side won but the frustrations around execution that have lingered for a few weeks still remain. The major positive was that even though we made errors, some of the decision-making under pressure was exceptional. If the execution had been better, then a bonus point would have also been in the bank. That said, Crawley made life very difficult for us and I was surprised where they sit in the League table. We currently lie fifth, having not really hit our straps. The top of the league sides have now started to break away and we must perform at home next week to hang on to the breakaway. With most of the top sides being played at home after Christmas, we must also recognise that the long game (in all senses) is vital ."

Lewes: Irvine, Warren, Raynor, Evans, Lowen, Furse (Capt), Blunt, Robinson, Taylor, Shiell, Roberts, Wade, Feltham, Bredin, Hewitt (reps. all used: Cripps, Mills, Petty).

On Saturday, Lewes1st's host local rivals Crowborough at the Stanley Turner Ground, k o 2.30 pm.

Lewes 2nds' re-arranged game at home to Crowborough also takes place on Saturday, k.o.2.30pm