MELTON MOWBRAY COLTS 24
LINCOLN COLTS 31
NLD COLTS GROUP 2
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: GORDY ELIAS
Lincoln Colts produced an excellent team performance to secure a hard-fought 31-24 win away at Melton Mowbray.
Fin Daniels, Zane Redfern, Al Seaward and Ernie Oversby all scored tries for Lincoln and Jack Coles-Mapleston successfully slotted over four conversions and a penalty.
Lincoln enjoyed most of the pressure for the first 10 minutes of the match, leading to the opening try on a chilly Friday evening in Leicestershire.
Redfern picked up the ball from the back of a scrum and drove to within a metre of the try line. Fin Daniels reacted quickest to get the ball and go over for a try five metres to the right-hand side of the posts. Coles-Mapleston added the extras.
Lincoln increased their lead after their opponents fumbled the ball at a lineout and Coles-Mapleston carried it over the 10 metre line.
He then kicked it down the left-hand side of the pitch, which led to a drop out. Lincoln ran back at Melton and, after three phases, Seaward powered over for a try.
Coles-Mapleston once again slotted over the conversion to give Lincoln a 14-0 lead going in at the break.
Melton responded with a strong start to the second half and the hosts reduced the deficit within six minutes of the restart. After Lincoln conceded a series of penalties, their fly-half took a quick tap and danced around a few defenders to score a try.
That brief setback didn’t deter Lincoln, who were eager for the win and a superb tackle on the Melton fly-half saw the ball knocked clear. In a panic, the hosts tried to kick it over the top and Lincoln collected the ball just over the 10 metre line.
Isaac Shirley made great yards before interpasses with Fin Leeson, and brilliant recycling by Lincoln, set up Coles-Mapleston. Coles-Mapleston made a good break to just over the 22 before Oversby ran onto a hard line and burst through several tackles to score a try. Coles-Mapleston added the extras.
More great work by Lincoln’s forwards and backs set up fly-half Shirley, who was tackled just five metres short of the try line.
The visitors then recycled the ball back right towards the posts and Coles-Mapleston carried it towards the line. He then tipped it onto Redfern who ran in for a try under the posts, which Coles-Mapleston converted.
One of Melton’s forwards was proving very tough to stop and Lincoln eventually tackled him inside the 22. Melton then got the ball back out to the right wing before crashing over for a try.
From the kick-off, Lincoln put excellent pressure on their opponents and knocked them back in a series of tackles, before stealing the ball at a ruck.
It wasn’t long before Lincoln were awarded a penalty inside the 22, and five metres to the right-hand side of the posts. Coles-Mapleston made no mistake with the boot and expertly added a crucial three points.
After consecutive penalties, and a good bit of phase play, their biggest forward made good yards as the defence struggled to stop him. He then passed the ball out wide to set up an unconverted try and cut the gap in the score to just seven points.
Lincoln showed great determination to ensure they held on for a fantastic victory on the road.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln Colts Coach Brian Kelly said: “We were using this game as a measure for how far we’ve come during the course of the season.
“We lost to their second team by one point at home in one of our first matches in September. To beat a really strong Melton team away from home is an indication of how good the boys have become and how strong their confidence is at the moment.
“It was a real team performance and everyone did what they were supposed to do. It was brilliant to watch - probably the best first half of rugby I’ve seen them play.”
