Third win for rugby men

London 2 SouthLewes 10 Andover 6Lewes were victorious for only the third time this season and climbed off the foot of the table in an attritional game played out in terrible ground conditions which worsened as the game went on.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jan 2007, 11:30 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:50 BST

Lewes had the advantage of the wind in the first half, dominating possession and pinning Andover back in their half, but handling was difficult with several good chances slipping away.

Early pressure did tell, with Lewes winning a penalty, but full-back Neil Rumble was wayward with the kick.

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After 15 minutes Lewes made the breakthrough as a good kick by wing Chris Meddings took play into the Andover 22. Lewes won the lineout and drove, pushing Andover back 20 metres, and the ball was flipped out to fly half Chris Eden, who passed in a neat switch to centre Scott Patto. The last-named had enough strength to power over despite the attentions of two defenders, but Rumble again missed the kick.

Andover immediately conceded a penalty and Meddings sent another spiralling kick down the right. Lewes won another lineout on the Andover 22 and then drove all the way over, skipper Dave Hemsley coming up with the try. The conversion was again missed, this time by Meddings.

Andover conceded another penalty from the kick-off which Lewes sent into the opposing 22. This time, however, Lewes's forwards coughed up possession and Andover escaped.

Lewes's forward power and strong defence meant when Andover tried to run the ball from behind their own 22 and they were knocked back and lost possession.

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Against the run of play it was still Andover who had the best chances in the rest of the half. Andover were awarded a number of penalties and from one Lewes were saved close to the line by a knock-on.

Into the second half Andover began to dominate using the wind, but it took them 20 minutes to get points on the board when No.8 Mark Wildly kicked a penalty.

Lewes then conceded several penalties, one of which Andover opted to kick and closed the gap to four points.

Near time Andover won a lineout and their scrum-half Guy Wilkinson managed to break through, but he was hauled down just short and Lewes stole possession, kicking the ball dead.

There was time for one more lineout. Andover took it cleanly and launched a Gary Owen which Rumble was able to take and then clear.

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