The Lewes Under 12s team have had a well-deserved few weeks winding down after the end of the season. They enjoyed a great tournament day hosted at the Stanley Turner Ground, hosting Wimbledon Warriors, Bromley and Uckfield and ended the season with an awards/fun day at Dog-tag Airsoft in Horsham.

What a great season it has been. All the coaches and players have been inspired by the journey the team has made.

We started off in Pool E of the League unsure of how the team would compare to other teams in the league. We knew we had a great bunch of players, with a great attitude and team spirit, but at that point they have played very few matches as a team. However, from the initial friendlies, we started to learn very quickly that the team could compete with some of the best teams in the league when they achieved score lines of 80-0 and 55-0 in their first two friendlies, leaving larger and more experienced opposition looking shell shocked.

The team continued to grow in confidence as they played pool matches and by the end of the first phase we were undefeated and at the top of Pool E, having achieved 150 points scored over the phase, with only 5 points scored against the team.

In phase two we moved up to Pool D with a real sense of pride in what the team had already achieved, but still wondering how they would approach more experienced opposition. From the start they again surprised their opposition, achieving 30-5 and 40-10 in their next league matches and having time to chalk up 60-5 in a friendly match. By the end of phase 2 the team were undefeated at the top of Pool D with 110 points scored and only 20 points scored against.

The final statistics for the season are something neither the coaches or the players expected at the start of the season, but are a testament to the incredible hard work put in by everyone and also to the sportsmanship and team ethos demonstrated by all players when they are on the field wearing a Lewes shirt. From the start the coaches and players have focused on the word “Team” valuing every contribution from every player, whether it be the back making a pass, the forward making a tackle or the centre scoring a try. The team has ended the season undefeated in all league matches, having scored 250 points, the most achieved in the league with only 25 points scored against them in league matches in the whole season.

The coaches and team will now have a well-deserved rest, looking forward to the start of training on the 2nd of June then every Thursday until August, preparing for the next season where they will start in Pool C. We are sure the whole squad will have their sights firmly focused on achieving promotion by the end of the first phase of the new season.