LINCOLN COLTS 26
WEST BRIDGFORD COLTS 21
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: WEND BURROWS
Lincoln’s Colts put in a strong performance to claim a 26-21 home victory over West Bridgford.
Finn McKenna grabbed a brace of tries for Lincoln and Oscar Wood and Charlie Bargh each scored one, while Stan Matthews slotted over three conversions.
Lincoln enjoyed the majority of the possession in the early stages and took just 13 minutes to open the scoring.
After being awarded a scrum 30 metres out, Lincoln shipped the ball right and made good yards before passing it back across the line to the left for Wood to score an unconverted try.
From the kick-off, Lincoln produced a decent bit of play in their own 22 and took the ball up into the middle of the park. Lincoln then progressed down the right-hand side of the pitch and through the centres and over the 22. Full-back Finn Clements then offloaded the ball for McKenna to run in for a try under the posts.
Matthews added the extras to give Lincoln a 12-0 lead going in at the break.
Lincoln were in a confident mood and, after recovering their own kick-off 15 metres inside the opposition half, the hosts recycled the ball from a ruck and went left. After making good yards, Zane Redfern then ran a flat line and Bargh superbly ran on his shoulder and broke through two tackles.
Bargh then handed off the opposition winger and full-back to run in for a try, which Matthews converted.
West Bridgford reduced the deficit with their first try of the match, but it didn’t take Lincoln long to regain control.
After sustained pressure on the opposition line, Lincoln gave away the ball and a scrum. Under pressure, West Bridgford were able to clear and McKenna caught the ball.
McKenna then danced around all of the chasing players, sidestepped a few and broke through two tackles to go over for a try under the posts, which Matthews converted.
After brilliant phase play in their own half, Lincoln progressed to halfway but tried to stretch the play too far. This resulted in the ball going to ground and West Bridgford picking it up and moved quickly down the right-hand side, before passing inside to set up a try.
With the final play of the game, West Bridgford were on Lincoln’s five-metre line and the hosts looked to have stopped them in their tracks, but a penalty try was given. It didn’t change the result and Lincoln ran out worthy winners.
Lincoln Rugby Club would like to say a big thank you to our main partners McDonald’s (Cathedral Restaurants), Small Beer, McCann Construction, Mortec Projects, UDCS Ltd, Paladin Radiators, Turnbull, and MeadowTree Homes.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln Colts coach Brian Kelly said: “The lads played really well for 55 minutes, starving West Bridgford of possession and playing some great attacking rugby.
“Our discipline in the last 15 minutes let them back in to the game.
“There is massive potential in this group of players and the coaches are really excited for the coming season.”
