After Lewes' opponents pulled off a surprise win over previously unbeaten League leaders Thanet Wanderers last week, this was going to prove tougher than many would have thought earlier in the season and so it turned out. The first half saw Williamsonians' heavier pack dominate matters, but then - after changing tactics - Lewes fought back in the second half to draw level, only to fall at the last with a sucker-punch try by their opponents in the dying seconds of this high-scoring and entertaining match.

In front of the largest crowd of the season - boosted by some 50 current and former members of the Ladies' team who earlier had celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a pre-match luncheon - it was the visitors who opened the scoring after just three minutes from their right-winger, Chris Foot, converted by outside-half and skipper Callum Bowry, to make it 0 - 7. But Lewes hit back straight from the re-start, outside-half Billy Shiell kicking forward a loose ball before touching down near the right corner. Full-back Jon Pitts kicked over the conversion to level matters at 7 -7.

The next 10 minutes saw play concentrated in the middle of the park but with the visitors' pack of forwards beginning to assert themselves in both scrums and line-outs. It was not surprising therefore that they were awarded a penalty for a Lewes offside after 20 minutes which Bowry slotted over to go ahead at 7-10. Williamsonians were now forcing Lewes to inside their own 22 metre area for long periods, only failing to score again with a series of dropped balls and basic errors. This, combined with sterling Lewes defence against the visitors' growing momentum, meant there were no further points added at the half-time whistle.

The second half saw Lewes change tactics, kicking deep at every opportunity, gaining territory as a result and forcing their opponents to counter-attack from deep. This gave the speedy Lewes backs more possession, which they capitalised on as the game progressed. But it was the Old Boys who scored first in the second half, with an unconverted try after only one minute from their flanker, Chris Norris, to stretch the lead to 7-15. Eight minutes later Lewes' new game plan paid off, a fine flowing move ending with outside-centre Will Feltham (pictured) touching down out right with inside-centre Dan Wade's great conversion bringing the hosts nearer at 14-15.

Five minutes later, Lewes took the lead for the first time at 21-15 with a fine tap-forward by right-wing Abe Bredin which he then collected for a try under the posts, Wade adding the extras. However, a few minutes later the visitors regained the lead at 21-22 with a somewhat controversial penalty-try awarded by the referee for an offence which none of the crowd had seen, thereby giving Williamsonians a bonus-point for their fourth try. To their credit, Lewes' heads did not go down and they attacked right from the re-start with a flowing move up to the visitors' 22 metre zone, resulting in a penalty in front of the posts for handling in the ruck which Wade duly kicked over to go ahead once more at 24 - 22.
This became 29 - 22 almost immediately, flanker Eliot Moule charging down an attempted clearance kick and then touching down for his side's fourth, bonus-point try out left, but the conversion attempt just sailed wide.

Lewes were now on top, their good tactical kicking keeping Williamsonians on the back foot but, in a rare move back upfield, the visitors pulled level at 29-29 with a break-away try under the posts by Morris which he also converted. At this point, a high-scoring draw seemed on the cards but in the dying seconds, a final forwards move by the Kent side ended with their second-row, Richard Pearce, scoring under the posts as for once Lewes' defence faltered, Morris kicking the conversion to take a last-gasp win.

The only consolation for Lewes was that, although slipping to sixth place in the table, they gained a second bonus-point for keeping within seven points of their opponent's score. In the end, this was probably a fair result, as Lewes were very lucky to not have gone behind by a large margin in an error-strewn first half, but they must raise their game if they are to progress further in this tough League.

After the match, the players voted Billy Shiell "Man-of-the-Match".

Lewes: Morgan, Warren, Irvine, Blunt, Moule, Furse (Capt), Robinson, Hatch, Taylor, Shiell, Roberts, Wade, Feltham, Bredin, Pitts. (reps, all used: Mills, Hewitt, Raynor).

This week, Lewes' away League game at Crawley has been switched to Friday evening under floodlights, due to the Bonfire celebrations in the town. ko 7.30 pm.

Lewes 2nds home game against Crowborough 3s was called off after their opponents were unable to field a side.