LINCOLN IMPS XV 21
DRONFIELD 2ND XV 59
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
Tries from Will Hewing, Conor Milnes and Josh Brown couldn’t prevent Lincoln’s Imps XV from a 59-21 home defeat against Dronfield, but the team captain still found plenty of reason to be positive about the match.
Dronfield opened the scoring with a converted try after just five minutes.
Lincoln lost Laurence Few to the sin bin before the visitors extended their lead with another converted try.
Lincoln reduced the deficit when Will Hewing intercepted the ball on his own 20 metre line before outpacing the opposition winger and running in for a try. Luke Brodrick successfully slotted over the conversion.
Dronfield hit back with an unconverted try to take a 19-7 lead going in at the break.
Lincoln battled hard in the second half, but unfortunately found themselves further behind as Dronfield crossed for three more tries. Lincoln did manage to claw one back after Dronfield's first when Conor Milnes went over for a try after a tap and go from a penalty, which he also converted.
The hosts reduced the deficit after 68 minutes when Milnes made a break from the base of a ruck. He got tackled, but managed to pop the ball up to Brown, who ran about 30 metres to score a try. Milnes successfully slotted over the conversion.
Dronfield scored three converted tries in the final five minutes of the match, but Lincoln can take heart from elements of their performance which they will look to build on as the season continues.
After the match Lincoln Imps XV captain Jacob Taylor said: “Despite the result, the players had a really positive air about them.
“This game was effectively our season opener and we took the opportunity to incorporate some new boys into key positions.
“We gelled well and saw some slick purple patches at times, but couldn’t quite carry them over the full 80 minutes.
“Plenty of positives have been taken and it was a key experience to carry forward into this season.”
Lincoln coach Adam Kelleher gave a special mention to the third team players who moved up and performed really well.
He said: “Saturday was a starting point for us to move upwards and onwards through the season.”
