An absorbing, close game at Aylesford

The Lions were just ‘shaded’ by a good converted try and lost, but gained a bonus point .

The Aylesford side are experienced, with some tall forwards and showed a strong defence . They were clearly surprised at the skill and ferocity of the Deal & Betteshanger Lions attack in the first quarter of the game and much of the action took place within the Home side’s half.
The pressure told and John Sheehan, the full-back, converted two good penalties and narrowly missed another, which struck the post . However, the Lions were missing several players from sickness and although the backs did receive some ball, the attack was slow and lacked penetration .
One good move involving Luke Armstrong coming in ‘on the burst’ in the centre was halted by some excellent Aylesford defence .
Aylesford countered with two penalties and the Half-time score was 6 points all .

The match continued in an absorbing struggle, with the Lions backs again failing to attack at speed and the Home defence held firm . After some more close play, the Aylesford left wing bust through the centre with a well-worked move and the result was a converted try . There followed a penalty which then brought forth another period of frantic pressure from the Lions which just failed to provide the breakthrough try, despite most of that play being in the Aylesford half . Sam Hanley at tight-head prop dominated the replacement Aylesford opposite prop which resulted in two penalties, one of which was converted by Sheehan .

So ended a well-contested and interesting game which was well controlled by a good Sussex referee.

Reporter David Storrie