KESTEVEN 2ND XV 33
LINCOLN IMPS XV 29
NLD MEN’S JUNIOR XV CUP
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: JEN DAVEY
Lincoln Imps XV were looking at cup victory until Archie Goss scored a late try to snatch a 33-29 victory for Kesteven at Woodnook on Friday night.
Leon Hobson-Sheriff, Toby Barrett, Bear Coates, Quinn Heaphy-Martin and Chris Smith all scored tries for the Imps, while stand-in captain Jack Miles slotted over two conversions.
Sam Kirby grabbed a brace of tries for Kesteven and Cid Wardle, Archie Carson and Goss each scored one.
Martyn Parker crucially kicked four conversions to ensure Kesteven emerged victorious.
Lincoln made the perfect start when Hobson-Sheriff scored a try after just two minutes, which Miles converted.
Kesteven hit back to level the score with a try from Wardle after 18 minutes, before Lincoln soon regained the lead through Barrett.
Lincoln were reduced to 14 players when Pete Usher was sent to the sin bin for persistent offside.
It took Kesteven just two minutes to make the most of having an extra player as Kirby crossed for a try.
Parker added the conversion to give Kesteven a narrow 14-12 lead going in at the break.
Lincoln also lost Flynn Smith to the sin bin for high tackle in the closing stages of the first half.
Lincoln repeated the quick start they had made in the first half by regaining the lead within one minute of the restart thanks to a try from Coates.
Back came Kesteven with a try from Carson edging the hosts in front.
Kesteven lost a player to the sin bin after a deliberate knock on after 52 minutes.
Lincoln soon took advantage and moved back in front as Heaphy-Martin crossed for a try after 56 minutes.
Kirby scored his second try of the afternoon shortly before the hour mark, but Lincoln kept battling hard and regained the lead through a Chris Smith try, which Miles converted.
Lincoln were only four minutes away from booking their place in the next round when Goss came up with the winning try, much to the delight of the home crowd.
After the match Lincoln try scorer Chris Smith said: “We played some good rugby in parts of the game and scored some good tries, but we kept letting them back into the game in areas.
“We lost a player to injury which didn’t help us, but credit to Adam Stubbs who did a great job as pack leader and Jack Miles who stepped in as captain.”
Kesteven’s 2nd XV captain Paul Bennett said: “It was a hard-fought contest between two tenacious squads.
“Each team played right up to the final whistle with absolute passion and determination.”
