The Lions Win Pulsating Game Against Lewes

The Lions Secured another fine win over their much fancied Sussex visitors Lewes and five valuable points in their fight to avoid relegation.
The game started late due to the visitors coach breaking down but had no apparent effect on their play as they went into an early seven point lead. After been awarded a penalty Lewes opted to kick into the corner, won the resulting line out and drove over for the tighthead prop to get the touchdown. The outside centre kicking the conversion. 7-0 to Lewes.
The Lions response to this score was not long in coming. After pressure inside Lewes 22 they were awarded a penalty. Choosing to take a scrum the Lions drove forward for second row Wesley Bull to pick up and force his way over. Ollie Best kicking the difficult conversion.7-7
The game at this stage was developing into an exciting contest with the result hard to forecast. The Lions had the nudge at the scrums but in all other areas the sides were equally balanced. The home side were playing into a strong wind in the first half giving the visitors the opportunity to relieve pressure with long kicks to touch.
The Lions moved into the lead midway through the half. Skipper Adam Michael, receiving ball just inside his own half, made a scything break upto Lewes 22 before feeding Ollie Best on his outside who scampered over. He converted his own try to take a 14-7 lead.
With just eight minutes of the half remaining Lewes mounted a period of pressure on the Lions line which resulted in Lions skipper Adam Michael being sin binned for handling in a ruck. From the resulting penalty Lewes elected to take a scrum and drove over. The outside converting to level the scores at the break. 14-14.
The second period was barely a minute old before Nathan Mitford restored the Lions lead. Receiving ball 30 metres out he beat four defenders with a mixture of skill and brute force to get over wide out. Ollie Best adding the difficult conversion. 21-14 to the Lions
In a game where fortunes first swung one way then the other it was no surprise when the visitors were next to score. The right wing intercepting a sloppy pass on his own 10 metre line to race in and score. 21-19 to the Lions
Midway through the half the Lions suffered a second yellow card with Anthony Hart being sent to the Bin. Despite this handicap the Lions opened up a fourteen point gap with two tries. Ollie Best putting Sam Hanley over for the first which he converted. Nathan Mitford then got over for his second which was a carbon copy of his first try, ploughing through four defenders to score wide out . 33-19 to the Lions.
With still seventeen minutes remaining Lewes still had time to rescue the game and to their credit did manage to narrow the gap to seven points with a converted try by their inside centre. leaving Lions supporters a nail biting final five minutes to see their side close out a second successive victory which included a bonus point for scoring four tries or more. This game was a pulsating and exciting encounter that had the followers of both sides uncertain of the result right upto the final whistle.

Team

D.Best, N.Mitford, L.Armstrong, A.Hart, C.Thatcher, O.Best,A.Michael, L.Hayes, M.Curd, S.Hanley, W.Roberts, W.Bull, A.Chamberlain, J.Harrington, J.Hinkins

Subs

N.Parker, D.Rose & Mitch Halpin

The Lions have an open date next Saturday but the postponed fixture against Old Dunstonians may be re-arranged.

Reporter Gerald Griffiths