This end-of-season clash, played at Horsham, was between two promoted Clubs: Lewes, as winners of Sussex League 1, and Bognor, runners-up in Hampshire 1.

See Tommy McMillan's photos of the game here >>

As might be expected, the opening quarter of the match was tight, Lewes - playing in their red away kit - tending to dominate through their pack of forwards but their backs' attempts to break through being thwarted by disciplined and aggressive defence from the West Sussex outfit. Lewes nearly opened the scores after 12 minutes, but outside-half Henry Tagg's penalty kick bounced back off the upright, and only one minute later, it was Bognor who put the first points on the board with their first foray into Lewes' 22 metre area. An attempted clearance kick was charged down, enabling Bognor's inside-centre, Josh Burgess, to pounce onto the loose ball for the opening, but unconverted, try to make it 5-0.

See David Beech's photos of the game here >>

On 24 minutes, Lewes hit back, this time Tagg's great penalty kick from just inside Bognor's own half going straight through the middle of the posts to narrow the gap to 5-3.

But only one minute later, Bognor pulled ahead again at 8-3 with a penalty kick from their outside half, Mike Calton.This proved to be their only points until the dying seconds of the match, Lewes going into the lead for the first time on 33 minutes with a surging drive downfield, finished off by right-wing Will Tobin wide on the right, Tagg's conversion seeing his side up at 8-10. Just before the half-time break, this lead increased to 8-15 with a stunning run from half-way by Player-Coach Mike Stubbs, eventually touching down in the right corner for a brilliant individual but unconverted try.

The second half was only eight minutes old when Lewes pulled further ahead at 8-22, a strong drive by the pack towards the Bognor line being finished off by second-row Tom Creed touching down under the posts, Tagg adding the conversion. Just on the hour, this otherwise entertaining match was marred by a series of skirmishes as tempers rose, resulting in Lewes' outside-centre Henry Shiell being red-carded, along with a yellow card for one of Bognor's prop forwards. This meant that Lewes had to defend with only 14 men for the remaining 20 minutes of the match, but to their credit they adapted their game plan and kept their opponents at bay until the last few minutes when prolonged pressure saw Bognor score a try near the posts from prop-forward Joe Burns, Calton converting, to make it a somewhat flattering 15 - 22. But Lewes' supporters knew their side were the fitter and, by continuing to dominate territory and possession, they held out to the very end, even forcing Bognor back upfield with controlled mauling and rucking and in spite of losing Tobin to a second red card just before the final whistle for provocation after being kicked in the forehead by an opponent while lying on the floor.

The match ended with Lewes deserved winners after a very impressive all-round performance and in front of a loud crowd of supporters. After the match, Captain James Halpin was presented with the Sussex Shield by County President, Dewi Vaughan, before his squad flew out to Berlin for end-of-season celebrations.

Lewes: Hill, Warren, Oakford, Creed, Dean, Hatch, Furse, Stubbs, Wood, Tagg, Feltham, Halpin, H Shiell, Tobin, Templeton. (Reps: Williams, Edwards, Gorbell, Johns, Sharp, Durley, Wells).

After the presentations, Lewes' Chairman, Nick Page, said:

" This season has surpassed expectations. To win the League so emphatically and then to add a Cup is fantastic and, I believe, a first for Lewes RFC.The players have been brilliant all season and, although mostly young, Mike Stubbs and the older hands have combined their experience to add depth. I thank them all for bringing some pride back to Lewes after a few difficult seasons.

We know next year will be different and more challenging. I hope that the people of Lewes and surrounding communities, where most of our members in the Minis, Juniors and Seniors come from, get behind us and we can make the whole of Lewes proud to have a club like ours in the town.“