Scores Pour Down on Lewes

We were welcomed to Lewes with temperatures bordering on zero and the beginnings of what turned out to be quite the downpour. With a much changed team to last week due to availability we welcomed a couple of colts into the team along with some names not seen in a long time.

Before the game we spoke about stepping up the intensity from last week and building on the impressive win against Crowborough and from the first play the forwards with numerous carries muscled their way up to the 22, this was to set the tone for the rest of the game. Unfortunately for all the good play for the first 20 minutes we were lacking that final touch until a slice of fortune allowed Jack Thompson to go over under the sticks. Our big pack continued to dent the Lewes defence and our equally sizeable backline smashed through and around almost at will with Max Crawley-Moore’s uncanny ability to ghost that first defender a second try followed with Halligey throwing defenders off and busting over the line for his first score. Lewes did not lie down however and a few mistakes plus some interesting takes on the laws of the game resulted in us parked on our try line for 5 minutes trying to repel the repeated attacks, a crucial turnover by the impressive Halligey was shipped down the line to the backs where a clearing kick would have been the obvious choice but Zach Roberts had other ideas as he burst through the first 2 defenders and continued to leave a trail of destruction in his wake as he went the length of the field and under the sticks. Colt Olly Jones who impressed throughout the game began his hat trick heroics with a rather fortunate try that occurred after a scrum awarded the wrong way and a knock-on in the centres after a crash ball that was missed, it was however finished with some aplomb. The weather continued to worsen and as half time approached mistakes from both sides resulted in a scrappy end to what had been an intense first half.

We started the second half in pretty much the same way we played the first with our forwards in particular Pete Morley, Mark Taylor and Halligey making sizeable inroads with each carry. Aaron Gee who was having a rough time with some high tackles and a ten who took the offside line as more of a guideline than a written rule continued to boss the game and put players through the holes created by the onrushing defence. Olly Jones continued his try scoring prowess however took a bit longer than he should have done in dotting the ball done that nearly resulted in a Freddy Burns as it’s called now. By this point Lewes were slipping off the tackles and we were running through with ease, Owen Leggatt decided a quick tap near our 22 was the best course of action much to the disapproval of an unfit and disgruntled centre’s attention however 30 metres and the whole of the Lewes team later I admitted it was probably the better move. A turnover in the midfield resulted in Halligey (aptly named the FunBus by Mark Taylor, he said he loves the name btw) with half the pitch to lope across and dot down again. We started to ring the changes 10 minutes into the second half and the superb Robotham and Unsworth made way for Jon Seal and Guy Phillips, this could have created a drop in intensity however they powered into the game and gave us a renewed go forward. Olly Jones decided that jug avoidance wasn’t quite on the agenda and ran in another long range effort. At this point the Lewes captain who was watching his players drop with increasing regularity decided to ask the referee if he wouldn’t mind calling the game to avoid any more serious injuries and a wrecked pitch.

It was a genuine pleasure to play with this 2s team today. The weather was dreadful, the officiating left a little to be questioned and Lewes certainly weren’t short of a few hefty players however every single member fronted up and played out of their skins.

MotM is shared between an impressive Olly Jones and Peter Morley who had one of his best games I have ever had the privilege to see.
There was almost no need for DotD due to such an impressive performance but after meeting with the referee to confirm scores he did happen to mention that a certain Tom Halligey was aware of his try scoring prowess and was also careful to ask the ref to keep quiet when the word jug was mentioned.

(Match report kindly written by captain for the day Ruari - Many thanks mate)

This result means we go into 2019 at the top of the league! I'm very proud boys, but there are a few more gears! Training is important in the new year! Happy Christmas lads - Mattie xxx