SKEGNESS RUGBY CLUB 29
LINCOLN 3RD XV 24
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: CHLOE COLEMAN-MORLEY & JASON DIVILLY
Lincoln’s 3rd XV crossed for four tries in a hard-fought battle away against Skegness, but it ended 29-24 in the hosts’ favour after a last-minute score.
Tries from Sam Cave, Jacob Taylor, Alex Brodrick and Will Hewing looked like they would be enough to give Lincoln a second successive victory, but Joe Preston had other ideas as he snatched victory for Skegness at the death.
It was the second of Preston’s two tries while Harry Raistrick, Jamie Cameron and Jake B also crossed for five-pointers for Skegness.
Skegness opened the scoring inside the first five minutes when Preston picked up a loose ball and handed off several players before going over for an unconverted try.
Lincoln hit back just five minutes later when Taylor made a great carry before being stopped just short of the try line. The visitors weren’t to be denied though as a simple pick and go soon after set up a try for Cave, which Luke Brodrick converted.
The same two players were involved again as Lincoln increased their lead midway through the first half. Taylor ran hard against the grain onto an offload from Cave to cross for an excellently worked try. Luke Brodick once again added the extras.
Skegness reduced the deficit when Jake B crossed for a try, which Cameron converted, but Lincoln scored just before half-time to take a narrow 19-12 lead in at the break.
The try came when Alex Brodrick broke through two players who were trying to tackle him, before stepping past the full-back. The youngster then got tackled but managed to stretch out to put the ball over the line for an unconverted try.
Skegness levelled score within 10 minutes of the restart in what was proving to be a topsy-turvy game. Cameron muscled his way over the try line to score under the posts after good team play from a lineout, before successfully adding the conversion.
Lincoln regained their lead with a well-worked try 15 minutes from time. A superb pass from Darren Rorie found Hewing 10 metres out from the try line, who shrugged off the full-back and cut inside to drive over to score.
Skegness once again responded well, this time with an unconverted try from a strong scrum just three minutes later. Scrum-half Raistrick sniped from the back of the scrum to score.
The match could have gone either way but, unfortunately for Lincoln, Skegness snatched the win with the last play of the game. From a ruck, Preston exploited a two versus one overlap to go over for a try in the corner. Cameron missed the conversion, but it didn’t stop Skegness from emerging as winners in a game that was played in great spirit.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
After the match Lincoln 3rd XV’s player/coach Adam Kelleher said: “It was a really strong team performance with solid scrumming and improved lineouts from the forwards, with the backs moving the ball and making the gaps to attack into.
“Sadly, fatigue in the final 15 minutes led to an unfortunate result.”
Skegness captain Adam Ongley said: “From a captain’s point of view it was amazing to see so many players (44 between both teams) and so many supporters at the rugby club again.
“I think rugby union has struggled generally after the dreaded COVID, which ultimately forced us to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the league structure.
“This however has allowed us more freedom to manoeuvre and do what is right for our club and get back that love of grassroots rugby. For me, Saturday has reinforced that this was actually the right decision and we press on.”
He added that he would like to give a special mention to the team’s main kit sponsor Richard Crow Mortgages and to Nick Morgan, who was playing in what could potentially be his last game for Skegness.
