LEWES admit their chances of a top five finish are already slipping away after they suffered a fourth successive league defeat.

They produced an improved display at home to London Two South high-flyers Effingham and Leatherhead but still went down 27-13.

The hosts were 17-3 adrift at the break and an impressive second-half effort, in which big Jez King scored two tries, was not enough to rescue the match.

Lewes, who need a top five placing to retain their Division Two status when the leagues are re-organised at the end of this season, have been hit by a series of injuries in the opening weeks.

Chairman Terry Powell admitted: "Of course we're concerned now about how we'll get into the top five, but we've just got to get on with the situation we've got.

"The encouraging part is that we are not losing by big margins, even with our injury list. But we've really got to get back to winning and not accepting defeat, even in close games."

At least skipper Gordon Denslow, open-side flanker Duncan Barton and lineout target Rob Erskine should be back for the next league game.

King's scores on Saturday included a superb lineout move, in which he peeled away down the blind side.

Martin Lovell kicked a first half penalty.

Haywards Heath might have hoped Lewes could do them a favour by ending Effingham's winning run.

Heath were ahead for much of their four-pointer at Canterbury before two late tries sent them to an 18-16 defeat.

The defending on both sides was superb but two Owen Ashton penalties and a Jon Graham drop goal edged Heath 9-6 up going into the final ten minutes.

Canterbury then struck twice in quick succession before Nick Dinsdale powered over from a rolling maul for a try which Ashton improved to give the Sussex side late hope.

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