Lewes RFC

Sun 8 Feb 2026, 12:30

Lewes U16

15 - 7

Guernsey U16s

Lewes U16

Guernsey U16s

The Lewes Lions U16s played at home on Sunday, in their 6th League One match of the season. After a period where the team had suffered with injuries, the squad was back to full strength and hopes were high for a competitive match. Guernsey is a strong team and had been promoted from League 2 in the previous season on the back of some excellent results.
The match had a busy start with Lewes defending well after a Guernsey Kick off. Guernsey had several chances to move into the Lewes 22, but after infringements on both sides Lewes were able to push back into Guernsey’s half after dominance in the scrum and lineout.

Over the next ten minutes both sides battled for territory, with Guernsey spending slightly more time in the attacking half and looking slightly more likely to achieve the first break through. Lewes continued to defend well and did have some breaks into the Guernsey half.

As the first quarter came to an end, Guernsey mounted a sustained attack in the Lewes 22, pushing the Lewes line back onto the try line, despite several attempts by Lewes to clear, after a sustained period of defence, Guernsey was able to find a gap and touch down near the posts, for the first score. With a successful conversion this put the score at Guernsey 7, Lewes 0.

From the kick off Lewes stormed into the Guernsey half, determined to level the scores. Despite various attempts by Guernsey to move out of their half, Lewes kept pressing with excellent line speed, and a solid defence, ensuring that their opposition was kept on the back foot. With a good use of pod groups and well-placed kicks Lewes spent most of the next quarter in the Guernsey half.

After ten minutes of pressure, Guernsey was able to break the pressure by kicking into the Lewes half, after Lewes failed to roll away in a tackle. However, Lewes were quickly able to rebuild and find space on the left wing, taking the ball back deep into the Guernsey half. After drawing the Guernsey defence on the left, the Lewes backs were quick to distribute the ball on the right wing, cutting back in and taking the ball within inches of the Guernsey try line. After some fierce rucking Max Holmes was able to drive through the defensive line and touch the ball down in the corner for Lewes. With a failed conversion this put the scores at Guernsey 7, Lewes 5.

After a failed kick off, both sides returned to the centre for a scrum. Guernsey gained the advantage after Lewes did not set correctly and were able to kick deep into the Lewes half, unfortunately finding the dead ball line. After a Lewes put in at the scrum, the Lewes forwards were able to break away quickly and get the ball to the back who then took the ball back up into the Guernsey half but were unfortunately pushed into touch. After a failed lineout Lewes again gained the scrum, taking the ball forward deep into Guernsey's half. After several infringements by the opposition and various restarts, Lewes were able to convert the pressure into a penalty Infront of the posts. Louie Stokes kicked the three points required to take the scores to Guernsey 7, Lewes 8 just before half time.

From the kick off, Lewes were able to take the ball back up into the Guernsey half and made good use of pods and backs to push the defensive line back. After a Guernsey infringement, Lewes were able to kick deep into the Guernsey 22 and were looking dangerous in attack. After a solid defence Guernsey were able to win a scrum in their half, but Lewes were quick to steal the ball and mounted an attack on the right wing. After quick ball Lewes moved the ball back down the left wing and after an infringement were award another penalty within reach of the Guernsey posts. Unfortunately, this time, the ball did not go over the posts bringing the half to an end.

In the second half Lewes started with the kick off. For the first 5 minutes Guernsey held the initiative and were able to push the Lewes defensive line back into their own half. The Lewes defence held strong and Lewes were able to gain a scum in their own 22 to relieve the pressure. After another Guernsey push, Lewes gained a penalty and were able to kick to the halfway line. After some great forward thinking the Lewes back were able to kick a great spiral bomb into the Guernsey 22.

Guernsey were quick to push their line up, but with quick line speed Lewes were able to place the Guernsey attack under pressure and continued to push deep into the Guernsey half. Over the next ten minutes neither team was able to exert any form of dominance, Lewes could not find the space they needed in attack, while Guernsey could not push the Lewes line back into their own half.

After another five minutes of phases from the Lewes attack, they made a breakthrough on the right wing, only to be stopped on the 22, and after not rolling away Guernsey regained possession. Lewes were quick to shut down the Guernsey attack and gained a scrum in the Guernsey 22, quickly distributing to the right wing only to be stopped again by a solid defence.

After regaining possession Guernsey again pushed towards the Lewes half, but again the Lewes defence was organised and held. After several infringements by Lewes, Guernsey were able to push into the Lewes half for the first time in the half, but after a knock on and a quick steal by Lewes, lost their advantage with Lewes returning to the Guernsey half. After an infringement by Lewes, Guernsey were able to run the ball back into safety, looking dangerous in attack. However, their momentum stopped after a knock on and Lewes gained the scrum.

From the scrum, Lewes kicked deep into the Guernsey half and from the line out were able to drive forward in a maul and gain possession after a Guernsey infringement in the maul. The resulting kick placed Lewes within striking distance of the touch line on the left wing. Lewes lost the resulting lineout and Guernsey were awarded a scrum in their own 22.

The Lewes line continued to drive up quickly taking the space of the Guernsey attack, and regained possession, beginning to build across multiple phases towards the Guernsey 10m line. After a Guernsey infringement Lewes were able to kick for a line out within meters of the Guernsey try line on the left. After an excellent Guernsey defence, Lewes moved the ball across to the right wing and Laurie Blomfield was finally able to crash the ball over the Guernsey line. After a successful conversion by Louie Stokes, this put the scores at Guernsey 7, Lewes 15.

With the last minutes of the quarter remaining, Guernsey did not give up and from the kick off pushed quickly into the Lewes half. For the next 2 minutes the Lewes defensive line had to work hard, but after an infringement Lewes were able to kick the ball back into the Guernsey half. Guernsey continued to attack, but the Lewes line speed kept them trapped within their own half. Finally, after one more Guernsey push into the Lewes half, Lewes were able to kick to touch, ending the second half.

Both sides played a fantastic game of rugby, on the day, Lewes were able to take the advantage in the second half to seal the win.

Lewes are now looking forward to two friendly matches against Uckfield and Edenbridge at the Stanley Turner Ground, followed by their final League One match against Crawley away.