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LEWES LOSE OUT IN OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURE

LEWES LOSE OUT IN OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURE

DERECK Wade15 Sep 2019 - 11:10
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LEWES 17 HOVE II'S 21

In a disappointing start to their Harvey's of Sussex League 1 campaign, Lewes came unstuck due largely to tactical errors (trying to run the ball from inside their own 22 metre area when kicking for safety would have been the better option), and an inordinately high penalty count against them. In a game between 2 otherwise closely-matched sides, it was the combination of these 2 elements which cost Lewes dearly.
The early pressure came from the hosts and they were rewarded after 12 minutes with a fine, but unconverted, try in the left corner from full-back Billy Shiell. But 10 minutes later the visitors hit back after Lewes had tried to run the ball from deep inside their own territory, only to lose possession which enabled Hove's loose-head prop to touch down near the posts, the try converted by No. 10, to go into the lead at 5 - 7.
To Lewes's credit, they attacked straight from the re-start, a great flowing move involving almost all the team - much applauded by the large crowd - ending with inside-centre Will Feltham scoring wide out right for an unconverted try to re-take the advantage at 10 - 7.
However, just before the half-time whistle, Lewes conceded several penalties in succession, which ended with Hove's No. 6 scoring his side's second try, converted by No. 10, to go in a the break with a 10 - 14 advantage.
A change in player positions/tactics saw Lewes more combative in the second half, which saw both teams score only a single try apiece. The turning point of the whole match came on 50 minutes when Lewes's influential outside-centre, Harry Hanley, was yellow-carded for an alleged dangerous tackle (which appeared to everyone else to be perfectly legal). This afforded Hove an extra player for the next 10 minutes, which they used to full advantage only 1 minute later as their No. 6 plunged over for his second try, the conversion by his outside-centre seeing the visitors somewhat fortunately pulling away at 10 - 21.
In the last quarter, Lewes won the ball on Hove's 25 metre line and then fed it out to flanker Finn Spalding for the last try of the match, converted by Billy Shiell, to make the final score 17 - 21.
A losing bonus point was not enough to console the Lewes players afterwards, and they will have to lift their spirits for their next League encounter on Saturday, home to Burgess Hill, k.o. 3.00pm.
(Special thanks should go to the ball-boys, Lewes's Under 8's, whose efforts - on a very hot day - ably assisted both players and officials).
Lewes: Hill, Bowry, Durrant, Sale, Sullivan, Cowling, Moule (Capt.), Spalding, Rourke, Whiting, Austin, Feltham, Hanley, Errigo, Shiell. (Reps. all used: Evans, Williams, Jones).
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