Chi win League game with Lewes

Chichester - last seasons county runners up, versus Lewes - last seasons county champions. We were looking forward to a good game of rugby. Having been postponed due to the weather and condition of pitches Chi boys were keen to get the game played.

Bring on todays game, in absolutely horrible pitch conditions, first of 2016. At this point I would love to say the boys came striding out of the changing room, running as a pack towards the pitch, ready for battle. But in reality they carefully trotted their way over, slipping and sliding through the squelch of mud to get there without falling over.

Game on and Chi were all over Lewes from the whistle. I dont think apart from 5 minutes towards the end of the first half Lewes were even let over the halfway line and it was just a concerted mass of Chi pushing constantly, battling Lewes and the elements to try and break over the try line. The ball weighed a ton, being covered in slippy wet mud, making passing and kicking difficult, but after a lovely move swinging the full width of the pitch both ways Nick Hobbs on the right wing drew the last defender and Louis Blanshard was next to him in support to offload to and run the 10 metres left to score the try.

Second half started as per the first, Chi forwards performing admirably against a huge Lewes pack, keeping Chi buried in Lewes' half for the majority of the game. Chi were waiting for the opportunity and as Niki de Brunner stepped on as replacement inside centre the break came with Sid Lewis charging through Lewes' line, Niki de B right beside him calling for the ball which he took at speed and through the last line of defense to score try number 2.

With only a few minutes left to go Lewes kicked off and Chi were defending off their own 22. A hugely messy 10 minutes followed with Lewes being award 8 penalties in short succession right infront of the Chi try line. Chi, rightly so, felt somewhat aggrieved by this phase of play going against them and the boys, to their huge credit, kept it together and valiantly defended the try line for penalty after penalty awarded against them. After the final penalty was awarded, just feet from the line Chi were unable to hold the ball up and Lewes scored.

1 minute of the game to go saw Lewes back in the Chi half with their No.1 breaking through Chi on the right wing and the try line in view. James Carter made a man stopping tackle, with Ed Minto taking him into touch with a quite astonishing matchwinning tackle, to end the match.

Winners 10-5. It was a game played in truly awful conditions, thick, wet, slimy mud making just walking on the pitch difficult - let alone trying to run or pass the ball that was weighed down with mud and impossibly slippery.

The boys showed huge heart, neither side could play to any level of skill to show their true abilities, and it ended up being who had the extra toughness to get through. Well done to all boys, you totally deserved it!