Lewes RFC

Fri 14 Nov 2025, 18:30

Brighton U16

36 - 5

Lewes U16

Brighton U16

Lewes U16

The Lewes Lions U16s played at away on Friday, in their 3rd League One match of the season. They knew they were going to face a tough challenge against Brighton, a very good team who had beaten them in the previous season. This was Brighton’s first Friday night match under lights and the conditions were good for fast ball.

From a Lewes kick off, Lewes were able to quickly gain a scrum and looked ready to move into the Brighton half. However, after a quick interception Brighton were able to move through the Lewes centre and gain the first score of the match. With a conversion this put the scores at Lewes 0, Brighton 7.

Lewes then mounted a consistent push into the Brighton half, showing dominnance in the scrum and were able to maintain possession for long periods of play. When the ball was turned over, Lewes continued to mount pressure with some quick counter rucking and a number of interceptions.

After ten minutes of sustained pressure Lewes gained their first chance to cross the line after a well-placed free kick placed them on the Brighton 22. Unfortunately, Lewes lost the ball in the line out and Brighton were able to move the ball back out of their half.

Over the next quarter the momentum changed regularly for each side, with both sides mounting deep runs into the other’s half, but with no resulting score. After a dominant scrum by Lewes in their own half, they were able to run the ball to halfway, only for Brighton to gain possession and again run the ball over the line on the twenty second minute of play. With a conversion this put the scores at Lewes 0, Brighton 14.

Both sides knew there was still everything to play for, and after another dominant Lewes phase of play, Laurie Blomfield was able to take the ball over for Lewes in the corner. With a failed conversion this put the scores at Brighton 14, Lewes 5.

With only one score between the two sides, Lewes continued to maintain good attacking phases and pushed hard to gain an equaliser. On the thirty-minute mark, Lewes found that they had been pushed back, close to their own 22 and from a resulting scrum the Brighton attack were again able to find space quickly and run the ball over the line. With a failed conversion this put the scores at Lewes 5, Brighton 19.

As the half was close to ending, Brighton was able to maintain pressure in the Lewes half, and after a Lewes Infringement awarded Brighton a penalty, they were able to successfully kick for goal, putting the scores at Lewes 5, Brighton 22.

As the second half began, Lewes put Brighton under pressure in their own half, mounting numerous phases while parked on the halfway line. Unfortunately, Lewes could not find the space to make gains and after five minutes of sustained pressure, Brighton gained possession.

After a kick for territory, the Brighton attack was able to quickly run the ball through the Lewes defence, beating defenders to take the ball over the line, with a successful conversion, putting the scores at Lewes 5, Brighton 29.

As the second half progressed, Brighton was penalised a number of times for offside, and after a warning from the referee a repeat occurrence resulted in a yellow card, and a ten minute Sin Bin, reduced Brighton to fourteen players.

Lewes, keen to press the advantage mounted numerous phases into the Brighton half, but Brighton maintained a strong defence and did not allow Lewes to find the space they needed. On two occasions Lewes came close to adding to the scoreboard, but a knock on and losing possession at the line out gave the momentum back to Brighton who now knew they were coming close to the end of the half.

With only three minutes of the half remaining, Brighton was able to take quick ball from the scrum and take an attacking line through the centre of the Lewes defence to take the ball over the line. With a successful conversion this put the scores at Lewes 5, Brighton 36.

Lewes did not give up in the last minutes of the match and mounted a determined, but unsuccessful attack on the Brighton line in the final minutes of play.

At the final whistle the scores remained Lewes 5 and Brighton 36.

The Lewes players showed great composure and discipline during the match, but sadly on the day they were not a match to a very fast and determined Brighton attack.