Nayler try ends deadlock

Sidcup kicked off with the wind at their backs and a few minutes in they went on the offensive as their aggressive forwards linked well with their sprightly backs.

An early injury to Lewes's second-row forward Chris Gorbell saw him replaced by Andy Turner, and almost immediately Sidcup embarked on a rolling maul from 18 metres out which ended with their No.7 Colin Cooper picking up the ball and touching down near the posts for the opening try, converted by fly-half James Cosh.

Lewes responded from the re-start, and a swift handling move upfield took them close to the line which enabled skipper Chris Brant to pick up and touch down for a try, converted by outside-half Dave Tyrrell.

The home pack were now beginning to play with some confidence, aided by some poor line-out ball from Lewes, but the visitors's organised defence, in which winger Scott Patto was outstanding, thwarted any real advantage.

However, Sidcup's persistent harrying paid off on 36 minutes when they attacked from midfield with a switch-move, freeing replacement Richard Evans to score out wide for an unconverted try to regain the lead at 12-7.

Just before the half-time whistle Lewes won good ball from 30 metres out and a swift move down the right flank was rounded off by Turner diving over in the corner. The try was unconverted and the scores were level at 12-12 at the break.

The second half was uninspiring, with many unforced errors from both sides. With the wind advantage Lewes managed to restrict Sidcup within their own half and were unlucky not to go ahead on 42 minutes when the referee disallowed what appeared to be a perfectly good try.

Just on the hour second-row Terry Jordan replaced Turner, and ten minutes later prop-forward Dean Riley came on for Jason Lundin. The introduction of fresh legs seemed to boost Lewes, whose play became more controlled and aggressive, enabling the deadlock to be broken seven minutes from time.

Following good scrum ball 20 metres out, the pack drove towards the Sidcup line, the move ending with flanker Jack Nayler picking up and charging through the defence for a fine try under the posts, converted by Tyrrell, for 19-12.

Straight from the re-start, Lewes won the ball and embarked upon a counter-attack from the halfway line, working it out wide for winger Sean Taylor to sprint some 50 metres to score a great individual try in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but Lewes were now on top at 24-12.

With only a minute of the match left Sidcup attacked into the Lewes final quarter for the first time in the half and scored when No 8 Matt West went over from a ruck near the posts, the try being converted by Evans.

Tomorrow Lewes entertain Sevenoaks at the Stanley Turner Ground, 3pm.

Lewes: Lacy, Gray, Lundin (Riley), Gorbell (Turner, Jordan), Raikes, Nayler, Giles, Brant (capt), M Sole, Tyrrell, Patto, Saunders, Griffiths, Taylor, Sharp.