LINCOLN 3RD XV 15
NEWARK 3RD XV 17
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: TONY CLAYTON
Lincoln’s 3rd XV battled hard in a game that could have gone either way but ultimately ended in a narrow 17-15 home defeat against near neighbours Newark.
Newark opened the scoring after 15 minutes when a ruck in the middle of their own half saw the ball end with the full-back, who ran around 60 yards to go in for an unconverted try in the corner.
Lincoln levelled the score after half an hour when Alex Taylor kicked a penalty to the corner. Lincoln won the resulting lineout before Number Eight Liam Horsley drove over for an unconverted try.
In the closing stages of the first half Lincoln were near their own try line and Chris Smith produced some great defending to win the ball back for the hosts.
Unfortunately, after the ball was passed back it was dropped by a Lincoln player. Newark reacted quickest to regain possession and put the ball down for a try to give them a narrow 10-5 lead at half-time.
Lincoln levelled matters within five minutes of the restart after Taylor picked up the ball from the back of a ruck and attacked the space in the channels.
Taylor then pinged the ball out to Craig Griffiths on the wing, who cut back inside before running in for a try.
Newark then won a lineout in their own half, but Lincoln put a lot of pressure on their opponents to turn over possession. Horsley then made a great break and drove into the five metre line before popping the ball out to Smith, who went over for a try to edge Lincoln in front by five points.
The match-winning score came after an attacking scrum by Newark. The ball was picked up by the Newark Number Eight before the ball ended up with their winger, who ran in to score a try and level the score before the subsequent conversion won it for the visitors.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
After the match Lincoln 3rd XV captain Tony Clayton said: “It’s always a little disappointing to lose a fixture, but this was a tight encounter that could easily have gone either way in a great game of rugby.
“Ultimately the game was won and lost on fine margins although every Lincoln player worked exceptionally hard for the squad and delivered a great game of rugby.
“Both sides were relentless in their determination and played their parts in a proper grassroots encounter in the complete spirit of the game.”
