With only seconds of this local derby remaining, Eastbourne and their supporters thought the game was going to end in a draw 10-10. But visitors Lewes - playing in red, as they will be doing for several weeks until their new set of kit arrives - had other ideas. After a last-gasp surge upfield by the visitors, an Eastbourne player was penalised for offside on the 22 metre line, in front of the posts and - in spite of the strong cross-wind - Lewes' full-back Dan Wade (above) calmly slotted over for the winning points, followed by loud cheers from both his own team and the large contingent of Lewes supporters.

See Danny Simpson's photos of the match here >>

The first 10 minutes of the match was evenly-balanced, but then Lewes, with the benefit of the following wind, embarked on a period of pressure inside Eastbourne's half, resulting in the first try after 11 minutes from wing-forward Nat Lowen, the conversion attempt narrowly missing, to see the visitors open the scores at 0-5.
This was followed some seven minutes later by the best try of the match, a great move between both forwards and backs by Lewes from inside their own half seeing them surge close to the line, enabling skipper James Halpin to touch down for a fine team try. Although the conversion went wide, Lewes - playing much better than their lack-lustre performance the previous week - had increased their advantage 0-10.

A penalty attempt by Eastbourne on 25 minutes went wide, but just on the half-hour, Lewes's No 10 Billy Sheil was yellow-carded for persistent offside, and Eastbourne made the most of their extra man almost immediately, scoring their first try from prop-forward hooker, Matt Webb, No 10 Ben Barter adding the extras to narrow the deficit to 7-10. Lewes went another player down just before the half-time break when outside-centre Gerrard Basson was penalised for a late tackle, but Eastbourne's resultant penalty kick missed the posts.

The first quarter of the second half was somewhat error-strewn, with both sides making a series of unforced errors, but Eastbourne managed to draw level at 10-10 on 58 minutes when Lewes - who were now suffering from an extremely high, and sometimes confusing, penalty count against them compared to their opponents - were once again penalised, enabling Barter to slot over from close range. Seven minutes later, however, Eastbourne themselves were reduced to 14 men when one of their second-row was yellow-carded. There followed a period of nervous play from both sides, but, although Lewes were somewhat in the ascendant, the hosts managed to hold out, and even missed a penalty attempt which would otherwise have given them maximum points. Instead, it was Lewes who took the honours 10-13 with Wade's last kick of the match, seeing his side complete a deserved victory to see them climb up the League table.

Stubbs commented after the match: "A much better performance but we were disappointed to let them back into the game after such a good start. Very happy to get our first win."

Lewes: Sayers, Hill, Rainer, Morgan, Lowen, Dean, Hatch, Stubbs,Taylor, Shiell, Bredin, Halpin (Capt), Basson, Hobden, Wade. (Reps, all used: Williams, Gribble, Saunders)

Lewes will face an equally-stiff challenge on Saturday when they host Old Dunstonians, k.o. 3.00pm.

Lewes 2nd's were at home to Heathfield but eventually went down 31 - 38 in a closely-fought encounter.