Sam Lewis is one of the two players who have been nominated for the shortlist for the 2013 LV= Breakthrough Player Award, after outstanding performances in the first round of the LV= Cup, along with Bath's Tom Heathcote.
Last year, LV= unveiled the Breakthrough Player Award, which is designed to recognise the outstanding breakthrough talent in the LV= Cup competition. Gloucester Rugby’s Jonny May was the winner and as part of his prize, chose to give £1,000 donated by LV= to Royal Wootton Bassett RFC where he first played rugby.
Following the completion of each round in the 2012 / 2013 LV= Cup Competition, the analysts at Opta will drill down into the data and nominate the outstanding forward and back from each week.
Back-rower Lewis was made captain for the day as Ospreys secured a dramatic victory over near-neighbours Gloucester on Friday evening.
The 22-year-old was skippering the Welsh side for the first time and impressive stats explain why it was he that took the plaudits after the game. For the amount of carries and tackles in the match, Lewis ranked joint-second and third of all players respectively. He also shrugged off a tackle and won ball for his side with an effort in defence. Four lineout takes compliment his efforts.
Head coach Steve Tandy commended the ‘captain’s knock’ that Lewis played. "Sam captained the team for the first time at 22, he puts the shirt before anything else and put in another outstanding performance,” he said.
Heathcote wasn’t the headline-grabber from Bath’s 36-15 defeat of Newport Gwent Dragons but the fly-half’s composure ultimately decided the clash at The Rec.
The 20-year-old landed eight goals from eight attempts to record a personal 21-point haul. Furthermore, Heathcote’s two try assists in the match meant he directly contributed to 31 of the 36 points the Premiership outfit scored. Throwing in a clean break, Heathcote displayed the complete array of talents that the modern day outside-half requires.
The University of Bath student may need to wait until next season before he aims to make the No 10 jersey his own as he completes his studies. But Heathcote’s efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed and Saturday’s man of the match Semesa Rokoduguni was the first to heap praise on him.
"Tom Heathcote had a good day and set up my first try, and there were good performances across the pitch which made it a lot easier for me,” the two-try Fijian winger said.
Just missing out on the shortlist were Exeter Chiefs’ young star Jack Nowell and Jono Ross from Saracens, both men having the chance to make it onto the shortlist this weekend.
Two players from each round, along with two players who have phenomenal overall competition statistics will form a shortlist which will be submitted to a fan vote on www.lv.com/rugby. Fans will vote for the winner of the LV= Breakthrough Player Award from the end of Round four until midnight after the second semi-final.
The winner will be announced prior to the final and LV= will donate £1,000 to a rugby club of their choice.
Sam Lewis – Round One:
Carries – 9, Tackles – 10, Defenders Beaten – 1, Turnovers won – 1, Lineouts won – 4
Tom Heathcote – Round One:
Carries – 10, Metres- 36, Try Assists – 2, Clean Breaks – 1, Kicks at goal – 8 from 8
The LV= Cup. Watch the next generation break through. For tickets and info, visit www.lv.com/rugby