Sun 17 Nov 2024, 11:00
The Lewes Lions U15 Warriors played at home on Sunday, in their third League match of the season. The Warriors were aiming to maintain a clean sheet and were focusing on the double for the Lewes U15 Squad, after the U15 Raiders had beaten Crawley earlier in the day.
From the start Lewes kept structure and discipline, putting Hastings under pressure in the ruck and maintaining good pressure on the gain line through numerous phases. This forced Hastings to kick to gain territory, with the game moving from the halfway line to the Hastings 22 over the first 8 minutes of the half.
Over the next four minutes, Lewes maintained pressure in the Hastings 22, pushing the Hastings defensive line backwards, at each phase, coming frustratingly close to finding space, and crossing for the first score. In the thirteenth minute, after a handling error, Hasting were able to make a break from their 22 and despite a close chase crossed the line for the first score. With a conversion this put the scores at Lewes Warriors 0, Hastings and Bexhill 7.
At the restart Lewes were again dominant in all areas of play and worked hard to again push the Hastings line back into their 22 with numerous phases and quick hands working the ball up and down the line. After two scrums in the Hastings half, The Warriors were finally able to convert their efforts into points as Laurie Blomfield powered past numerous defenders and crossed the line. With a successful conversion this levelled the score line at Lewes Warriors 7, Hastings and Bexhill 7.
Hastings were quick to come back at Lewes and gained momentum quickly from the restart. After a number of phases and well placed kicks, Hastings were able to gain a lineout dangerously close to the Lewes try line and opted for a rolling maul in an attempt to take the ball across the line. The Warriors looked to hold the line, but at the last minute Hastings were able to find space and ground the ball. With a failed conversion this put the scores at Lewes 7, Hasting and Bexhill 12.
The Warriors were keen to cut the deficit before half time, and again trapped Hastings in their 22 in the last minutes of the half, frustratingly the Hastings defence held, and again The Warriors were not able to convert their efforts and dominance into points leaving the score at Lewes 7, 12 Hastings and Bexhill, at the end of the half.
At the start of the second half The Warriors came out still looking fresh and immediately pushed Hastings back into their half. After 13 minutes of sustained pressure, where Hastings did not leave their half, The Warriors gained the score they deserved after Hayden Bourne crossed the line from a scrum in the Hastings 22. With a successful conversion this put The Warriors ahead on 14 and Hastings and Bexhill on 12 points.
Only half way through the second half, both teams knew they still had everything to play for and at the restart Hastings found fresh legs, pushing Lewes back into their half. After sustained pressure, for 10 minutes, where Lewes could not find space to mount another attack, Hastings were able to gain an important scrum in the Lewes 22. From the scrum Hastings found space and crossed the line for the 3rd time, but were not able to successfully convert. With 6 minutes of the half remaining this put the scores at Lewes Warriors 14, Hasting and Bexhill 17.
Over the next 3 minutes Lewes were determined to find space in attack, but a well drilled Hastings dug in on the Half Way line holding out for a win. After numerous phases The Warriors were finally able to get the ball out wide to Harvey Brown, who outpaced the Hastings defence to touch the ball down, after a great run from the half way line. With an unsuccessful conversion this put the scores at Lewes Warriors 19, Hastings and Bexhill 17.
In the last three minutes of the match The Warriors knew they had to dig deep to avoid a breakaway being made by Hastings. They marshalled a fantastic defensive line in the Hastings half, absorbing multiple phases made by the Hastings forwards and backs until the final whistle was blown.
The final score line did not reflect the success The Warriors had made in many areas of play against an organised and determined opposition. The coaching staff were immensely proud of the grit, determination and sportsmanship demonstrated by all the Lewes players. They again stuck to their game plan and were able to come from behind to clinch victory. The squad are now looking forward to their next league matches where the U15 Warriors play Hove at the Stanley Turner Ground on Sunday 1st December, and the U15 Raiders play Hove the following Sunday at Hove RFC.
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