Bit of a scrappy performance. Some of our play and a few of the tries were superb, but we tried to force things at times and made silly errors as a result. We can't though be too disappointed with a 7-try win

- Player-coach, Mike Stubbs

Although this was a convincing win which sees Lewes retain their third-place spot in the League table, their performance was not as controlled as last week's encounter - too many points being leaked against them by a team now occupying bottom-place.

The opening session of the match was all Lewes pressure, which resulted in their first try after just five minutes when influential scrum-half Gus Taylor touched down wide out left for an unconverted try to put 5-0 on the scoreboard. On the quarter hour, however, Bulls got back into the game at 5-3 with a penalty kicked over by their outside half - a feat he repeated ten minutes later to see the visitors go ahead at 5-6.

This stung Lewes into action and - roared on by a large home crowd - they began to play some flowing and attacking rugby, their forwards gaining possession to unleash their speedy and elusive back runners. Bull's defence finally broke on the half hour as the home side embarked upon a stunning flowing move from inside their own 22 metre for flanker Tom Hatch to touch down at the other end for a fine but unconverted try to see his side re-take the advantage at 10-6.

This extended to 17-6 straight from the re-start, a good team effort rewarded with their third try from flanker Nat Lowen, right-winger Jon Pitts kicking over the conversion. Lewes were now on the ascendant and in control, slicing through Bull's defence with almost every attack, with elusive running from all the backs and great support from the forwards. As a result, they scored their fourth, bonus-point try three minutes before the end of the first half, inside-centre Abe Bredin making a fine break through the middle to set up Lowen in support for his second, unconverted, try, to make it 22-6. One minute from the whistle, another Lewes attack down the left by winger Will Felton was thwarted by a high tackle from Bull's No 10, for which he was sin-binned for 10 minutes.

The second half saw Bulls score more points via a combination of slack Lewes defence, prop-forward Luke Raynor being sin-binned after 45 minutes for a high tackle; and some mystifying refereeing decisions. All these factors enabled Bulls to pull back to 22-11 after 47 minutes, their full-back scoring a try which went unconverted. Lewes responded with Hatch's second try some four minutes later, again unconverted, to go further ahead at 27-11. Eleven minutes later, a great piece of ruck play by the Lewes forwards unleashed outside-half Shane Costigan to score an unconverted try to stretch the lead to 32-11.Three minutes from the end of the match Bull's forwards - for once winning good ball from a set scrum - attacked Lewes' defensive line, ending with their full-back touching down for a try, converted by their No 10, to narrow the gap to 32-18.
But it was Lewes who scored the final points of the match, their impressive and highly entertaining display of rugby being rewarded when Hatch touched down under the posts for his hat-trick try, converted by Costigan, for Lewes to run out worthy victors by 39-18.

Player-Coach Mike Stubbs' views on the match: "Bit of a scrappy performance. Some of our play and a few of the tries were superb, but we tried to force things at times and made silly errors as a result. We can't though be too disappointed with a 7-try win".

Lewes: Raynor, Hill, Morgan, Lee, Blunt, Hatch, Lowen, Stubbs, Taylor, Costigan, Dewar, Bredin, Felton, Pitts, Halpin (Capt.).
(Reps., all used - Gorbell, Millis-Ward, Tagg)

Lewes are without a game on Saturday, their next match being a tough League fixture away to Gillingham Anchorians on 10 December, ko 2.00 pm.