Lewes has a bit of defending to do in the opening minutes, but soon were able to get onto the attack. They pressed on the Ditchling line and thought that Louis Medhurst had gone over for the opening try, but somehow it had been spilled. Ditchling were resisting well, being helped somewhat by Lewes conceding penalties that curbed their momentum.
The return of Gus Taylor was an extra fillip to the Lewes team who had missed him for the last two matches, both of which had been lost. Taylor replaced Jake Bowie and Lewes looked like a different team after he came on. He was instrumental in the first try of the game when Tom Rourke scored in the left-hand corner.
Unfortunately, the conversion was missed, which left the half time score at 5-0. It was a tight close scoring game, but just before the break, try scorer Rourke, had to go off with an ominously twisted knee, giving cause for concern among Lewes’ supporters who had only just welcomed back this talented player from a long-term injury.
Soon after the beginning of the second half, Lewes gave away another penalty which Ditchling (perhaps remembering how Lewes had won the earlier fixture) converted to narrow the lead. This was followed by another attempt which would have given them the lead, but Lewes breathed again as it sailed wide.
This sense of relief did not last long as Ditchling then went two better by scoring a try that was unconverted to make the score 5-8. One of Lewes’ problems in the absence of Taylor has been failing to make touch with penalties, but when the opportunity came, Taylor’s well-judged kick created an attacking lineout on the right-hand side. Lewes won their ball and spun it left for Bowie to score in the corner.
Taylor’s conversion made the score 12-8, but when Ditchling counter-attacked and scored their second try they obtained a one-point lead which they were able to hang on to as this exciting game reached its conclusion at the final whistle. The disappointment of the defeat for Lewes was softened by a strong performance by the latest player from the junior production line – Rory Macleod who has a promising future with the team.
Lewes and Ditchling are now level in midtable on 26 points, and Lewes now face three away matches in the next few weeks as they are due to play Uckfield on 25th January, Crawley on 1st February and Brighton on 15th February. The next game at the Stanley Turner will see the visit of Seaford on 1st March.
Lewes team Bowie; Benson, Green (captain), Hoff, Rourke; Henshaw, Durrant; Dadswell, Martin, Norman; Sale, Bradford; Weston, Gribble, Medhurst. Replacements: Gage, Macleod, Taylor.