SLEAFORD COLTS 7
LINCOLN COLTS 71
NLD COLTS GROUP 2
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
Ernie Oversby crossed for four tries as Lincoln produced a great team performance to claim a 71-7 win at Sleaford.
Finn Clements went over for a hat-trick of tries, Finn Daniels grabbed a brace, and Charlie Bargh and Olie Jorden each scored one.
Lincoln’s remaining points came via the boot of Jorden who successfully slotted over eight conversions.
Lincoln opened the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes after stealing the ball from a lineout and flanker Daniels making a break over the halfway line.
Sleaford then gave away a penalty for an offence at a ruck and Lincoln recycled quickly, with passes from Zane Redfern and Charlie Bargh setting up a try for Oversby wide out on the right.
Lincoln increased their lead after a good lineout move took them over the 22. They then recycled the ball out of a ruck and Clements bumped off four Sleaford players to power over for a try.
After some to and fro in the game, Lincoln then broke down the right-hand side of the pitch with most of the team getting a hand on the ball. Lincoln unfortunately gave the ball away with a ridiculous pass but, from the resulting scrum, they managed to win it back and Bargh went over for a try.
Jorden produced a superb kick from the edge of the 15 metre channel which bounced off the post and crossbar and over for the extra two points.
Lincoln continued to look confident in attack and, from a scrum, Daniels picked the ball up at 8 and carried it forward before tipping it onto Bargh. Bargh made good yards before offloading back to Daniels, who broke over the 22 before being hauled down by the full-back.
Lincoln managed to recycle the ball quickly and Jorden beat two players before running in for a try 10 metres to the right of the posts, which he also converted.
After some good phase play by Lincoln a knock on saw Sleaford awarded a scrum 10 metres from their own try line.
Lincoln managed to push them off the ball and hook it before Redfern picked up and tipped it onto Bargh. Bargh got to within two metres of the line before passing out of the tackle to Jorden, who offloaded it to Michael Ward.
Ward tipped the ball on to Clements who ran in for a try 10 metres to the left of the posts, which Jorden converted.
Lincoln were able to find time for another score in the first half after again pushing Sleaford off the ball from a scrum. The ball then went through the backs to Oversby who went over for a try.
Jorden kicked a pearler of a conversion from the touchline to give Lincoln a 38-0 lead going in at the break.
Lincoln started the second half strongly and Bargh put a lot of pressure on the Sleaford scrum half and, as a result, a pass went to ground and into the dead ball area.
One of the Sleaford players picked it up and tried to kick it out, but it went up in the air and landed on the five metre line.
Ward collected it and offloaded it out to Jorden, and he bounce passed it to Oversby, who ran in for a try in the right-hand corner to complete his hat-trick.
After the game went to uncontested scrums, Sleaford were awarded one on their own 10 metre line. The hosts spread the ball wide to the left and ran in for a converted try.
From the kick-off, Lincoln immediately put pressure on their Lincolnshire rivals and forced them into trying to clear the ball from their own five metre line. Lincoln won it back and recycled it wide right to set up Oversby’s fourth try of the afternoon.
Jorden added the extras with an excellent touchline conversion to bring up the 50-point mark for Lincoln.
From the kick-off, Freddie McCartney caught the ball on his own 22 and made a break before passing to Daniels.
Daniels went on a run and passed the ball inside to Bargh, who made good yards before offloading it back for the flanker to stroll in for a try under the posts, which Jorden converted.
Lincoln secured the ball from the kick-off and Jorden passed it out to Daniels who was eventually dragged down just over the 22. However, as he was tackled he managed to tip the ball inside to Clements, who ran in to complete his hat-trick. Jorden added the extras.
Lincoln weren’t finished yet and, after Sleaford overthrew a lineout, Daniels collected the ball and crashed over for a try.
Jorden slotted over his eighth conversion of the afternoon to complete a fine victory for Lincoln.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln Colts coach Brian Kelly said: “This game was a measure of how far the lads have come as a group, and how much confidence and trust they have in each other.
“Special mentions for Charlie Bargh, who is normally a hooker, playing at scrum half and he never looked out of place. And then because of injuries Will Kirk packing down at hooker for scrums, but then returning to the wing in open play.
“The lads put some amazing play together at times and now they’re looking forward to the VE80 tournament in two weeks.
“We’re all wishing a speedy recovery for Max Cartwright, who after a really innocuous push into touch has broken his collarbone. Get well soon Max.”
