Steyning undone at Ditchling.

Steyning were drawn away to Ditchling in the Sussex Bowl. Ditchling sitting 2 divisions above us and on arrival full of new players too!

Steyning knew that the match today was going to give a stern test and it did. I must apologise for the poor amount of detail in what follows but I was engrossed on the touch line, as where the 200+ spectators who also enjoyed a fantastically tight game of rugby beneath the spectacular back drop of Ditchling Beacon. Scroll down for the scoring sequence.
Ditchling got off to a canter and scored a soft early try, missing the conversion. Steyning then gathered themselves and arguably controlled the next 50 minutes of play. Matthew Hodson being rewarded after 3 penalty scrums for persistent fouls on Ditchling's own line, Tim Laker added the conversion to give us a half time lead of 5-7.
Start of the second half carried on with Steyning taking the game to Ditchling, Richard Addy scoring a try - and showing Dave Neale where the try line is! to plagiarise another comment, Dave's not got a promising career in acting if he misses his lines! - sadly Tim Laker missed the conversion. 5-12. Matthew Hodson decided to increase our lead with another hard hitting dive for the line, Tim adding this conversion and it was Steyning leading 5-19. It was around the 55 minute mark that it became evident how attritional the previous forays had been and the game opened up... Ditchling scored 3 unconverted tries in the next 10 mins taking a 20-19 lead. Steyning through the dancing boots of Peter Carter rallied again and scored a well worked try, converted by Tim laker. 20-26... Sadly this wasn't to be enough and in truth credit to Ditchling for taking the game on with another brace of tries in the last ten minutes. Final score 35-26.

A hard fought battle from both sides, something Steyning can be proud of.

Back to league duties next week with a little jaunt to Pulborough.