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Sweet revenge for Lewes

Sweet revenge for Lewes

DERECK Wade1 Oct 2017 - 08:10
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Bonus-point win moves Lewes up to sixth

The squad gave themselves a 6 out of 10 score, which was about right. We sit in a good position having played three of of our first four games away from home and very much look forward to the game at Lewes next week!
- Head Coach Chris Roberts

In this - Lewes' "overseas" away fixture - the Sussex side gained revenge for last season's surprise defeat against the same opponents with a convincing victory which sees them rise up the League table to sixth place. Lewes made several changes to last week's squad, including second-row Dexter Vigar - one of the Sussex club's Colts squad - making his debut for the Seniors, which no doubt pleased his father - former Lewes stalwart Mark Vigar!

The early pressure came from the hosts, with a penalty to Sheppey for an off-side tackle after only one minute which they elected to kick to touch. But from the resultant line-out, Lewes defended well and took play back upfield. The first attack by the visitors after eight minutes saw the ball taken to half-way, and then picked up by flanker Sam Furse for a fine run to touch down under posts for the opening try of the match, inside-centre Dan Wade's conversion putting the first points on the board at 0-7. 12 minutes later, Lewes broke out after a spell of pressure inside their own 22 metre area to race upfield via their speedy backs, seeing Wade finish off the move with a try under the posts which he duly converted to stretch the advantage to 0-14.

The next 10 minutes saw play strewn with injuries which upset the balance and rhythm of both sides, but Lewes held together better, enabling them to go further ahead at 0-19 just before the half-time whistle, with a great, individual run from outside-centre Will Feltham to score an unconverted try.

Straight from the re-start, Sheppey gained possession and poor tackling by the Lewes defence let in their No 8 Aaron Mills from long-range for his side's first - and as it turned out - only try, which he also converted to narrow the gap to 7-19. On 56 minutes,Lewes flanker Tom Hatch was yellow-carded, followed almost immediately by the same sanction for one of Sheppey's second row. Not surprisingly, the temporary reduction to 14 players per side resulted in no further scores for several minutes, but then Lewes re-asserted their superiority on the hour, winning scrum ball inside Sheppey's 22 metre area. This was worked out to Wade who neatly chipped towards the left-hand corner for winger James Durrant to score his side's fourth, bonus-point try. Wade (recently appointed Club Captain) added the extras to pull away at 7-26.

The final session of play saw Lewes dominate territory and possession as Sheppey tired, and this enabled Furse to break through a despairing defence for his second try, and then completing his hat-trick five minutes later, Wade converting both, to see Lewes run out deserved winners by 7-40.

Chris Roberts, Lewes's Head Coach, commented after the match:

"It was on odd feeling at full time. We had set ourselves the target of coming away from the long away trip with five points and we did just that. However, all concerned felt slightly disappointed that we had once again not quite put together a performance that has looked like coming all season. I don't think either side would disagree that Lewes were by far the better side, intent on playing the rugby. That said, Sheppey knew what their strengths were and sought to slow the play down and move from scrum to scrum. The squad gave themselves a 6 out of 10 score, which was about right. We sit in a good position having played three of of our first four games away from home and very much look forward to the game at Lewes next week! "

Lewes: Irvine, Moule, Raynor, Vigar, Jolley, Furse, Hatch, Blunt, Man, Shiell, Petty, Wade, Feltham, Durrant, Halpin (Capt). Reps, all used: Brooker, Pitts, Mills.

On Saturday, Lewes host Park House at the Stanley Turner Ground, ko 3.00 pm.

Lewes 2nds away match was cancelled as Newick 2nds were unable to field a team. Lewes' next match on Saturday is also at home against Seaford 2s.

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