Lewes 31 H&B 10

H&B U13 travelled to Lewes with a squad of 19 looking to give league favourites Lewes a tough game. The overnight rain cleared to leave overcast and windy conditions together with a muddy pitch. The H&B back line again had an unfamiliar look with flanker Matt Coyle having a run at flyhalf for the first time and newcomer Henry Hill making his debut at outside centre. Lewes won the toss and decided to receive with the wind at their backs. Following the early exchanges Lewes passed out their left wing who showed his speed and strength to run in under the post from 50m. After 9 minutes Lewes repeated this tactic and again the left wing out flanked the defence to run in unopposed, the conversion made the score 14-0. H&B needed to regroup quickly and this they did with the forwards gaining the ascendency in the scrums and rucks, providing ball for the backs to run, despite managing to string several phases together they were not able to breach the Lewes defence. The play remained even for the rest of the half but just as it looked like H&B would turn round only two scores down, Lewes took advantage of a penalty for offside to run the ball in for a converted score. With no time left to restart the halftime score was 21-0.

Lewes kicked off the second half and pinned H&B in their 22m area, despite having plenty of opportunity H&B were unable to break out, eventually the pressure told and the Lewes forwards drove over for an unconverted score. Following the kick off H&B were able to put Lewes under some pressure of their own setting up a maul on the 22m line Jack Marchant-Hall ripped the ball and popped the ball out left to the ever willing George Upton who made a determined run to the corner for a well deserved score. Play was contained in mid field for the next 10 minutes with both sides working hard. A lapse in concentration allowed the Lewes No. 8 to pick up from a scrum on halfway and run in unopposed for a score in the right corner. Not to be out done H&B hit back immediately from the restart, a Charlie Farrant kick was chased down by the forwards, the resulting fumble by Lewes was snaffled by Tom Grain when he dived on the loose ball and presented it to Andy Paige who out flanked the Lewes defenders for a 35m run to the left corner to make the final score 31-10.

The final score does not reflect the nature of the game, early scores from the rapid left winger aside, H&B more than matched their opponents in an even contest played in good spirit; the Lewes coach remarked that H&B forwards were the strongest they had faced this season. The players also managed to put some of their best flowing rugby together with phases of play along the backline, setting up a ruck for the forwards to retain possession and redistribution to the backs.

Special mention goes to Spenser Smart for all round performance at hooker, Coyle for strong running and good distribution from the unfamiliar role at flyhalf, Hill who made a very good impression on his debut, Tommy Gooch, Upton and Paige for unstinting efforts in the back row, the front five for strong scimmage work, Harry Ames who managed to get under his opposite number to disrupt the Lewes scrum. Man of the match goes to Ryan Southgate for his tireless effort at second row.

The team now have a week’s training before the Christmas break .

Next game Sunday 15th January away versus Crawley (KO 11am)

Squad: Marchant-Hall, Smart, Brereton (Ames), Southgate, Stockdale (Squire), Upton, Paige, Gooch, Nicholls (Grain), Coyle, Monro, Diver, Hill, Barker (Whitehill-James), Farrant