Hastings & Bexhill 0 Lewes 51

The first game for 9 weeks had H&B under 14’s travel to Lewes, the team at the top of the league and who had beaten us 91-12 at the start of the season.

Since then with 5 new players and a lot of hard work, it was time to see if we had improved. Unfortuneatly we had two players out due to injury, Tommy Craig (Thumb) and Dan Bunn (Knee) both hopefully back for the next match in 3 weeks time.

A new back row of James Hirst, Trystan Mayhew and Jake Begg built for speed not bulk, Will Phelps( back from 3 years playing the round ball game) at full back and  Ollie Fisher outside centre meant a new formation to try out.

The game started well with H&B taking on Lewes from the start and for the first 10 minuets the game was played in the Lewes half but some poor passing and a missed tackles let Lewes in for 3 quick try’s 1 converted. (17-0).

The rest of the first half was end to end as Harrison Cox ,Ben Cutts and Harrison Turner used their weight to drive up the park. One run from hooker Archie Meikle of three quarters of length of the park almost led to H&B's first points but he was caught by the Lewes defence in the heavy mud. Another try for Lewes before half time meant a very respectable 24-0 at the break.

At half time Oliver De La Harpe replaced Jamie Laplin-Place on the wing.

The second half was much like the first with H&B promising so much but unable to get the last pass away or make the crucial tackle.

As the game went on Lewes made the most of their 7 rolling subs changing players every 5 minuets keeping fresh legs on the park at all times.

A knock on the head for Sam Wilson H&B scrum half meant a shuffle round allowing Liam Midwinter his first taste of competitive rugby.

Lewes increased the score to 51-0 by the final whistle.

The Coaches and watching parents all agreed that the game seemed a lot closer then the score line suggested and the team are improving as the season goes on.

Man of the match William Phelps for crunching tackles!