Heartening signs in defeat

Ashford’s performance and commitment was encouraging, despite suffering an eighth successive London South East 3 defeat, at promotion-chasing Lewes on Saturday.

Four tries in 12 second-half minutes did the damage as injuries and the home side’s superior fitness left battling Ashford hanging on.

Basement side Ashford played some of their best rugby of the season at times against opponents pushing hard for promotion, on a day when fellow-strugglers Aylesford Bulls beat Eastbourne to open up an eight-point gap between the two sides, who meet next month.

The game at the Stanley Turner Ground was always going to be a challenge but Ashford held off Lewes’ strong start with Jack Weaver LEWES ASHFORD marshalling his pack well and Aaron Bowes making smart choices to unleash his back line.

However, the home side went 5-0 up after 18 minutes with a try following a drive from a line-out.

Ashford’s response was immediate, retaining the ball for long periods, eventually earning their reward with the ball spun wide to Shaun Woolford who ran through to score under the posts, Steve Tanner converting.

Both sides showed plenty of intent to move the ball, stability in the set-piece and resilient defending.

Lewes went in front again, going over for try following some tremendous Ashford defending.

Good work by Charlie Norman and Dan Sherrin then won Ashford significant yards and with Oli Finn having his best game of the season in the backs, Ashford won a penalty just before half-time to make it 10-10.

The exhibition of good rugby continued in the second half, although Ashford started to feel the strain. Lewes began to turn the screw, scoring four quick tries to all but end the game as a contest.

However, Ashford fought back with renewed vigour, Tom Hinckes marking an excellent performance on his return to the first team, by intercepting a pass, before running two thirds of the pitch to score, Tanner again landing the conversion.

PW D L F A Ps Thanet Wdrs . 14 12 0 2 469 210 60 Lewes........... 14 11 0 3 422 301 55 Haywrds Hth . 14 11 1 2 332 145 50 Pulborough ... 13 10 0 3 384 235 50 Folkestone .... 14 9 0 5 426 349 46 Sheppey ....... 14 4 1 9 334 439 28 Park House ... 14 5 0 9 249 362 26 G’ham Anch .. 13 5 0 8 329 351 25 Eastbourne ... 14 4 0 10 237 337 23 Aylesford B ... 14 3 1 10 233 412 18 O D’stonians . 14 4 1 9 313 417 13 Ashford ......... 14 3 0 11 241 411 8

Aylesford Bulls 24 Eastbourne 15, Haywards Heath 34 Old Dunstonians 10, Lewes 39 Ashford 17, Park House 11 Thanet Wanderers 48, Sheppey 22 Folkestone 27.

Gillingham Anchorians v Pulborough.

Left, Ashford’s Jack Weaver gets the ball out, with Dan Brown in support during Saturday’s defeat to Lewes. Right, Ashford’s Ben King held up, with Matt Richards in support

Pictures: Warwick Baker Left, Ashford take on Lewes during their 39-17 defeat on Saturday. Right, Shaun Woolford touches down for Ashford in the first half

Picture: Warwick Baker Ashford try and find a way through against Lewes