LINCOLN COLTS 38
MELBOURNE COLTS 14
NLD CUP - ROUND 2
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: WEND BURROWS
Lincoln Colts produced a strong team performance with six different try scorers guiding them to a hard-fought 38-14 home win over Melbourne in the NLD Cup.
Charlie Bargh, Euan Lowe, Stan Matthews, James Tomlinson, Max Cartwright and Finn Clements all scored tries for Lincoln.
Lincoln’s remaining points came via the boot of Tomlinson who successfully slotted over four conversions.
The hosts opened the scoring after a move down the blindside, from a short ball at the front of a lineout, set up Bargh to go over for a try.
Melbourne hit back with a converted try as the visitors took a narrow 7-5 lead in at the break.
Lincoln regained the lead with an interception as Lowe, coming off the left wing, ran 50 metres through the defence to score a try. Tomlinson added the extras.
Lincoln increased their lead when Matthews caught the ball from the kick-off inside his own 22 and ran most of the length of the pitch, beating several defenders on his way to scoring a great try. Tomlinson once again successfully kicked the conversion.
Melbourne battled hard and reduced the deficit to just five points when they scored a converted try.
Lincoln were determined to hold onto their lead and Tomlinson exploited gaps at the side of the breakdown.
He then stepped through on the opposition 10 metre line, dodging and weaving his way through the defence to score a try to the left-hand side of the posts, which he also converted.
Lincoln were growing in confidence and another try soon followed. Matthews chipped the ball through and it bobbled all over, with Cartwright quickest to react and run in for a try.
After a scrappy lineout, and the ball once again bobbling around, Lincoln managed to regather it. Clements came through on a hard line to run through the defence for a try.
Tomlinson slotted over the conversion to complete a fine victory for Lincoln and ensure their place in the next round of the cup.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln's Director of Age Grade Rugby Chris Briggs said: “In the first half we played some good structured rugby, but were unable to convert that into points.
“At half-time we asked the players for a little more patience and to convert the pressure and territory into points.
“I am so pleased for them that they were able to do that. They deserved the win for all their hard work.”
