Lewes RFC were aware that the challenges presented in London League 3 were going to be greater than in last season’s Sussex League, and so it proved on Saturday as they crashed to a heavy defeat in their first competitive game of the season.

Against a strong visiting side, and on a wet and slippery Stanley Turner Ground, Lewes’ insistence on trying to play open, 15-a-side attacking rugby from the start – which served them so well last season - proved their undoing, as Pulborough’s tactics of working their way upfield via their forwards before unleashing their influential backs proved more suited to the conditions.

Indeed, it was Pulborough who opened the scoring after 11 minutes after their left-winger finished off an attacking move from the half-way line for a try under the posts, converted by their outside half, to make it 0-7. This was followed a period of evenly-matched play, but then Lewes' attempts to break into Pulborough's 22 metre zone were undone by poor handling and missed moves, followed by weak defence, gifting the opposition their second, converted, break-away try by their second row, 0-14.

Pulborough's midfield were now controlling matters, with their half-back pairing proving dominant, and the pressure placed on Lewes' defence told on 35 minutes when full-back Dan Wade was yellow-carded for a high tackle when thwarting another attack. The visitors took full advantage of the extra man by pulling away for a half-time lead of 0-21 with a try from their outside centre, converted by their No 10.

Pulborough went further ahead 0-26 on 50 minutes, again being gifted the ball after Lewes spilled possession when on the attack, enabling their right-winger to sprint 50 metres down the line for an unconverted, but bonus-point, fourth try. Towards the end of the match, Pulborough had two players yellow-carded in quick succession for persistent offside as they tried to prevent the hosts from scoring, but this failed as Player-Coach Mike Stubbs finished off a series of attacks by plunging over for Lewes' only (unconverted) try of the match to make it 5 - 26.

But in spite of being reduced to only 13 men, it was Pulborough who scored the last points of the match, their inside centre touching down under the posts for yet another break-away try, his No 10 adding the extras, to see Pulborough to a deserved victory by 5-33.

Although Pulborough were no doubt the superior side, the score somewhat flattered them as Lewes' failures handed them at least 14 of their points' tally. The only consolation for Lewes during this combative encounter was that their pack of forwards performed well, both in set scrums and line-outs, but they will have to toughen up their defence before their next match on Saturday, away to local rivals Eastbourne, ko 3.00 pm.

Lewes: Hill, Sayers, Rainer, Gorbell, Blunt, Dean, Lowen, Stubbs, Jones, Shiell, Bredin, Halpin (Capt), Taylor, Hobden, Wade (Reps, all used: Cripps, Sharp, Williams).

Lewes 2nds were at Hellingly but went down 58-28 to a stronger side in their first League outing of the season. Try scorers for Lewes were: Ed Pope (3), Tim Bedeau and Josh Leigh, with one conversion from Jack Page.