LEWES BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE

Lewes's topsy-turvy season ended on Saturday with a stunning bonus-point victory over highly-ranked Bromley, their 9-try bonanza seeing then move up to sixth place in the League table.
After the disappointments of last week's defeat at Hastings, a rejuvenated Lewes squad come out of the traps with fire in their bellies and stormed forward with a flowing move to score the first try of the match after only 1 minute, right-winger Tom Petty touching down out right, outside-half Jon Pitts just missing the conversion, to open the scoring at 5 - 0. The second try followed some 8 minutes later when Lewes's continued onslaught to the visitors' line paid off, left-winger Billy Shiell (pictured) scoring under the posts, enabling Pitts to easily kick the conversion, to extend the lead to 12 - 0.
Lewes' speedy backs saw them score again straight from the re-start, Shiell scoring his second try out wide with a great conversion from long-range by Pitts to stretch out at
19 - 0.
It took Bromley until the 17th minute to get on the scoreboard, a good drive by their forwards taking them to the try line, where their No. 8, Sean Blackett, touched down for their first try, converted by outside-half Stephen Pillow, to narrow the gap to 19 - 7.
But Lewes's fourth, bonus-point try came only 3 minutes later, full-back Dan Wade coming into the line for a try out left, Pitts adding the extras, to make it 26 - 7. Bromley struck again on the half-hour, second-row Aidan Devanue touching down for an unconverted try to pull back to 26 - 12. (In a related incident, Lewes skipper Sam Furse was sin-binned, reducing his side to 14 men). But Lewes re-adjusted well to his loss, and just before the half-time whistle, scored again, this time winning turnover ball 30 metres out, then switching it out right for Shiell's hat-trick try under the posts, Pitts slotting over, to go in at the break with a healthy 33 - 12 advantage.
This fine display of attacking rugby from both sides - much appreciated by the large crowd - continued into the second half as Bromley, still with a one-man advantage, crept closer to the Lewes line for Blackett to score his second try, Pillow kicking the conversion, to make it 33 - 19. The home side immediately restored their lead at 40 - 19 when a great move between forwards and backs ended with second-row Casey Morgan plunging over under the posts for a fine team try, Pitts kicking over the conversion. The next 10 minutes saw some scrappy play as both sides tired in the warm conditions, but the Lewes back line continued to exert their authority. A 5-metre scrum on 65 minutes ended in a fracas, leading to a player from each side being sin-binned and from the ensuing re-set scrum, second-row Matt Blunt added Lewes's seventh, but unconverted, try, to pull away at
45 - 15.
This became 52 - 19 only 1 minute later after replacement prop-forward Mo Bacha stormed towards the Bromley try-line, only to be tackled inches away - but second-row Nathan Lowen was following up, and picked up the ball for a fine try under the posts, which Pitts duly converted. It took only another 5 minutes to extend this advantage to
57 - 19, No. 8 Luke Robinson scoring the best team try of the season out on the right, the conversion attempt hitting the posts.
To Bromley's credit, they never gave up the fight, and were rewarded with the last points of a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby just before the final whistle with a try by flanker Mike Hazel, converted by Pillow, and an unconverted try by replacement back Tommy Scott, to make the final score 57- 31.
After the match, Coach Nigel Baker commented: "Yesterday demonstrated the potential of the team. It was a great team performance, everyone working for each other and totally committing to the cause".
Lewes: Rainier, Moule, Morgan, Lowen, Blunt, Furse (Capt.), Capon, Robinson, Hatch, Pitts, Shiell, Feltham, Booth, Petty, Wade. (Reps., all used - Bacha, Williams, Taylor).

All in all, a satisfactory ending to Lewes's season which, had it not been for a dip in form in the last few matches, may have seen them placed much higher in the League table.

Lewes 2nd's suffered a rare defeat with a 19 -55 home loss in a friendly match against an Eastbourne XV comprising both1st and 2nd team players. Jamie Austin scored his side's first but unconverted try, following which Lewes were awarded a penalty try. Replacement scrum-half Gus Taylor then scored his side's third try, Dan Biller adding the extras.

After the match, the Club held their Annual Senior Awards Dinner, Club Chairman Nick Page presenting the following with their awards:

Mens' 1st. Team:

Player of the Year - LUKE ROBINSON
Most Improved Player - ELLIOT MOULE
Players' Player - LUKE ROBINSON

Mens' 2nd Team:

Player of the Year - JOEL EVANS
Most improved Player - TOBY QUELCH
Players' Player - OLIVER BOWRY

Mens' Clubman of the Year - AIDAN BYRNE (for the tremendous efforts he has made this year, in transforming Lewes 2nd XV into a very competitive team, .The Club have been struck by how many of the opposing Clubs have mentioned his input - even the ones who have lost!)

Ladies' 1st Team:

Player of the Year - SOPHIE WILLIAMS
Most Improved Player - CARYS PHILLIPS
Players' Player - HANNAH ROSS

Ladies' 2nd Team:

Player of the Year - SARA BRYANS
Most Improved Player - AMY HOAD
Players' Player - JO STOVELL

Ladies' Clubwoman of the Year - SARAH TURNER (for her sterling efforts as Fixtures Secretary for the Ladies' teams)

On Sunday, Lewes Ladies' 2nd XV had a convincing 32 - 0 home win against Pulborough Ladies with 4 tries from Jo Stovell, Nicky Carey, Siena Hatton-Brown and Sophie Kelland, with Sarah McCarthy kicking 3 conversions and 2 penalties.