Lewes RFC

Sun 30 Mar 2025, 11:00

Lewes RFC U15M

5 - 33

Guernsey U15s

Lewes RFC U15M

Guernsey U15s

The Lewes Lions U15 Warriors played away on Sunday, in their 8th league match of the season. Having so far only been defeated once in the league, they knew they were going to face a tough match against Guernsey. Both sides knew that they needed a win to remain in contention for the second-place spot in League 2.

After a Guernsey kick off the Warriors were quick to chase and hold the opposition attack at the halfway line. Over the next five minutes of play the Warriors looked to be more dominant in their line speed and with their phases and gradually pushed Guernsey back into their 22. The Guernsey defensive line held strong, and despite multiple phases the Lewes attack could not find the space needed to cross the line.

Over the next four minutes the level of play remained evenly matched, with neither side being able to find space. As the match approached the end of the first ten minutes, Guernsey were able to make the first break through, when from the back of a scrum, they were able to charge the ball down the right wing to score. With a conversion this put the score at Guernsey 7, Lewes Warriors 0.

The Warriors were quick to increase the tempo of their attack, looking for a quick equaliser. However, the Guernsey forward pack were quick to press home their size advantage and pushed the Warriors defensive line back into their 22. The Warriors defended valiantly as Guernsey pushed close to their try line and after a few tense moments, the Warriors were able to kick to safety. After a quick chase the Warriors looked to have found the space they needed, only to knock on in the Guernsey 22.

Lewes continued to dominate this section of play, and after several successful line breaks and scrums continued to look dangerous in the Guernsey 22. However, just as the Warriors looked to equalise, Guernsey were able to run the ball in from deep, again powering through the Lewes defence to take the ball over the line. With a conversion, this put the scores at Guernsey 14, Lewes Warriors 0.

From the kick off, the Warriors again looked determined to get points on the board. Over the next eight minutes they camped themselves in the Guernsey half, mounting numerous phases into the oppositions 22. After a number of offside infringements, Guernsey had to give more ground, resulting in a big push by the Warriors on the Guernsey try line. On the twenty eighth minute Charlie Cootes was able to take the ball across for Lewes. With a failed conversion, this put the scores at Guernsey 14, Lewes Warriors 5. In the last minutes of the half Lewes maintained pressure, keen to gain a second try before half time, but Guernsey were able to prevent a further score before the half time whistle.

At the start of the second half, the Warriors started confidently, but Guernsey were quick to again use the power of their forward pack to charge the ball through the Lewes centre and carry the ball over the line in the first minute of play. With a conversion this put the score at Guernsey 21, Lewes Warriors 5.

Over the next fifteen minutes, both sides dug in. Guernsey played a solid defensive strategy, while Lewes mounted numerous attacking phases, which could not find space into the oppositions half due to the line speed of the Guernsey defence.

With half of the time remaining, the Warriors were able to make their first solid break from a line out, only for the ball to be intercepted by Guernsey and again taken over the line, with a failed conversion, this put the scores at Guernsey 26, Lewes Warriors 5.

Over the final fifteen minutes of the match, the Warriors did not give up and continued to mount numerous phases and individual runs into the opposition's half. However, the Guernsey defence was able to hold on each occasion. In the last minutes of the half, Gurnsey were able to cross the line for a final time and with a conversion, this put the final scores at Guernsey 33, Lewes Warriors 5.

The coaching staff were immensely proud of the determination and sportsmanship demonstrated by all the Lewes players, but there was no hiding the disappointment of the squad, who had only been defeated on one other occasion during the session. There will be a lot of lessons learnt from the match, which will turn into positives as the season ends.

The squad are now looking forward to their final league match of the season where the U15 Lewes Warriors play Edenbridge with the aim to secure third place in League 2.