Jack Coles-Mapleston marked his return to the club with a brace of tries as Lincoln Colts produced a strong performance to beat Grimsby 76-12.
Michael Ward, Isaac Shirley, Fin Daniels, Charlie Bargh, Will Parfitt, Stan Matthews, Toby Barratt, Finn Clements, Zane Redfern and debutant Max Adams also scored tries for Lincoln.
Lincoln’s remaining points came via the boot of Oli Jorden and Coles-Mapleston who successfully slotted over six and two conversions respectively.
Jack Oldridge scored both of Grimsby’s tries and Freddie Burnett kicked one conversion.
Lincoln came out of the blocks quickly and opened the scoring inside the first minute of the match.
After being awarded a scrum from an early Grimsby knock on, the ball soon ended up in the hands of Ward, who broke through and ran 60 metres to score a try under the posts. Jorden added the extras.
After good phase play and a break down the left-hand side of the pitch, Jorden set up Ward, who made a 30 metre break. Ward then offloaded the ball to Shirley beyond the halfway line who raced clear for a try, which Jorden converted.
From the kick-off, Lincoln enjoyed a few phases to get beyond halfway before another break down the left-hand side saw Shirley go over the 22. After a ruck, and a tip on from Redfern, Daniels broke through to score under the posts. Jorden added the extras.
Daniels soon made another break, this time down the right-hand side of the pitch, before drawing in the full-back. He then tried to pass the ball out to the supporting winger, but a chasing Grimsby player knocked the ball down towards his own line.
Redfern was on hand to pounce on the loose ball to score a try and Jorden added the conversion.
Lincoln were soon in again and, after being awarded a penalty for a no shoulders tackle, they kicked the ball towards the 22 for a lineout. A great move saw hooker Charlie Bargh run around the back, step into space, throw a dummy, and run between two players to go over for a great try, which Jorden converted.
After being awarded consecutive penalties, Grimsby managed to march the ball forward towards Lincoln’s five metre line. Although Lincoln managed to stop an initial lineout move, they went off their feet at a ruck.
Grimsby responded quickly and Oldridge took a quick tap penalty and dived over for a try, which Burnett converted.
A maul after a lineout, and a drive forward, then ended in a try for Lincoln’s Parfitt as the hosts took a commanding 42-7 lead in at the break.
Grimsby enjoyed some good play in the early stages of the second half before Lincoln stripped the ball at a maul. Seb Griffin was tackled just five metres short, before Lincoln recycled the ball back towards the posts and debutant second row Max Adams ran onto it to score a try.
Lincoln then gave away five penalties for offside at a ruck, which resulted in Grimsby making a good 45 metres down the pitch. Grimsby were stopped five metres out and, although Lincoln were able to disrupt the lineout, the visitors soon recovered the ball and Oldridge crashed over for his second try of the match.
Unfortunately for Grimsby they knocked on soon after the kick-off and Lincoln recycled the ball and took a few drives in the middle of the pitch. Matthews then made a great break and powered through a tackle ,and nobody was able to catch him as he ran in for a try, which Coles-Mapleston converted.
Grimsby had another good spell of pressure, but a pass from their scrum-half was intercepted by Griffin who danced around three defenders before being stopped just metres from the try line. However, Grimsby couldn’t prevent the ball from being offloaded to Barratt who crashed over for a try. Coles-Mapleston added the extras.
Coles-Mapleston made a great run from full-back in the build up to the next try. He ran onto his own kick and when Grimsby tried to clear it, Lincoln charged them down and Coles-Mapleston was able to pounce on the ball to score.
Lincoln’s backline then ran a switch move which saw the ball popped from Matthews to Coles-Mapleston, who outstripped the defence to run in for his second try of the afternoon.
Lincoln capped a fine performance when Clements latched onto a loose pass from Grimsby and ran most of the length of the pitch to score a try under the posts.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln Colts Coach Brian Kelly said: “The lads were really up for this game, having managed to beat Grimsby in the away fixture earlier in the year.
“We talked before the game about being accurate and sticking to the game plan as we knew how disruptive Grimsby can be, especially at the ruck.
“The boys did exactly what they said they were going to do and it was a pleasure to watch a great team performance as well as some moments of the individual brilliance.”
