News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Back to winning form for Lewes

Back to winning form for Lewes

DERECK Wade19 Feb 2017 - 17:42
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.lewesrugby.com/new

Last quarter effort secures bonus point win

What a game! Lewes survived a first half of mayhem due to a series of injuries which eventually reduced them to 14 men, but had the resolve to produce an impressive last quarter to pull away and gain a bonus-point win with three tries in the final minutes of the match.

Park House were quicker into their stride and scored in their first attack from a rolling maul to put the first points on the board at 5-0. In their first push towards their opponents' line, Lewes' influential lock-forward Nathan Lowen was injured, followed quickly by prop-forward Alfie Hill suffering concussion. Despite having to re-organise their line-up accordingly, Lewes fought back to 5- 5 when lock-forward George Dean forced his way over from close range, the conversion attempt going wide.

Lewes were then reduced to 14 men - the result of winger Steve Mills being given a yellow card - but he made amends on his return to play with a fine but unconverted score out wide just before the half-time break to give Lewes a 5-10 lead.

The second half saw Lewes' injury woes continuing: both scrum-half Kirk Millis-Ward and prop-forward Casey Morgan having to leave the field due to injuries, the latter meaning that the visitors had used up all their front-row replacements. In this situation, play had to continue with uncontested scrums and - as the regulations state - Lewes having to lose another player.

In an inspired move, Lewes decided to retain a full pack of forwards, outside-centre Captain James Halpin being sacrificed as the extra player, but at least Lewes' chances were improved when Millis-Ward was able to return to the field.

Park House took full advantage of these changes and the resultant uncertainty in the Lewes camp to score immediately upon the resumption of play, and then capitalised on a penalty soon after by scoring another try to go into a 15-10 lead.

However, they then handed possession back to Lewes after a bodged re-start, enabling outside-half Shane Costigan to pirouette over for a fine try, the conversion seeing his side go back in front at 15-17. Park House hit back with an unconverted forwards' try in the corner to re-take the lead at 20-17, but Lewes than changed tactics, keeping the ball in hand throughout the last quarter of the match, thereby dominating territory and possession. With the home side now tiring, the Lewes 14 were now well on top, setting up a hat-trick of tries from winger Harry Handley, two converted, to see Lewes gain a precious 20-36 bonus-point win which keeps them in the top four of the League table.

Lewes 2nd's travelled to Cinque Ports, losing an entertaining game by 31 - 10, their tries being scored by Tom Petty and Rick Jones.

Lewes 1st XV are without a match on Saturday, their next game being the long trip to Sheppey for a League encounter, ko 3.00 pm.

Further reading