Fri 21 Mar 2025, 19:00
The Lewes Lions U15 Raiders played away on Friday 21st March against Haywards Heath at Cardinal Newman School. The Raiders knew they needed to win, or gain a bonus point to complete their season in 3rd place in the League. A loss would mean they ended the season in 4th place, just 2 points below Chichester, a team they had beaten earlier in the season.
The Raider’s knew that Haywards Heath were an extremely experienced and organised side and would represent one of their biggest challenges so far.
Over the first 10 minutes of the match, each side were put under pressure by the other. Lewes were dominant in the scrum, and were holding Haywards Heath defensively, while Haywards Heath were quick to pick up opportunities and drive the game line forward, and were quick to close down the Raider’s attacking line.
After ten minutes, neither side had been able to score, but after a Haywards Heath lineout in the Raiders half, Haywards Heath were able to find space, and took the ball down the wing, to cross the line in the corner, with a missed conversion, this opened the score line at Haywards Heath 5, Lewes Raiders 0.
The Raiders remained determined and continued to match Haywards Heath in the scrum and in rucks. The Raiders continued to push for space, but each time, Haywards Heath mounted a quick blitz defence to shut down space.
Although the Raiders were determined in defence, Haywards Heath were able to cross the line twice over the following ten minutes, after quickly utilising available space to take quick ball over the line. With conversions this put the scoreline at Haywards Heath 19, Lewes Raiders 0.
Over the final part of the half, the Raiders put the Haywards Heath line under pressure, pushing up after each phase, and keeping the ball alive to maintain the pace of their attack. After a sustained period of play, Laurie Blomfield was able to take the ball over in the corner for the Raiders. After a failed conversion this ended the half on Haywards Heath 19, Lewes Raiders 5.
At the start of the second half, the Raiders continued to match Haywards Heath, holding them in defence. However, they still could not find the space they needed in attack. The scoreline remained the same until the seventh minute, when Haywards Heath found space in the centre of a ruck on the Raider’s 22, taking the ball over the line in the centre. With a conversion this put the scores at Haywards Heath 26, Lewes Raiders 5.
Rather than lower their heads, the Raiders increased the tempo of their game and over the next third of the half tested the Haywards Heath defence on numerous occasions dominating in the ruck and scrum. The Raiders were able to push the defensive line back into the opposition’s 22. They also mounted a number of successful kicks deep into Haywards Heath half. On each occasion, the Haywards Heath defence was able to hold the attack, and the Raiders were not able to earn points for their efforts.
As the game entered the last ten minutes Haywards Heath were again able to mount a set piece from a ruck on the half way line, and successfully crashed the ball through the centre to again cross the line. With a conversion this put the score line at Haywards Heath 33, Lewes Raiders 5.
The Raiders again did not give up, and over the final ten minutes of the match, were determined to get more points on the scoreboard. Lewes were able to park themselves in the Haywards Heath half, mounting numerous phases in an attempt to find space.
Unfortunately, for the Raiders, after a sustained period of attack, Haywards Heath were able to find space in the last minute of the match, taking the ball over the line. With a failed conversion, this ended the match on Haywards Heath 38, Lewes Raiders 5.
The Raiders should be very proud of the intensity and determination they brought to this game. They dominated in many areas, but at the end, were not as successful as Haywards Heath at taking opportunities to cross the line.
The Raiders end their League One campaign in 4th place, just two points behind Chichester, who they had beaten earlier in the season. The squad have made fantastic progress over this season, comprehensively wining five out of their eight league matches, and to finish as one of the top four U15 sides in East Sussex is a testament to their development and determination as a squad.
The squad is now looking forward to their final League 2 matches against Guernsey and Edenbridge and also the fast approaching tour and Friday Night Lights 7s Tournament at the Stanley Turner Ground.
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