TUPTON 2ND XV 27
LINCOLN 3RD XV 60
NLD MEN’S JUNIOR XV PLATE SEMI FINAL
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: ADY BRODRICK AND GRAHAM BOLLAN
A Lincoln third team with a great blend of youth and experience produce a strong performance to book their place in the NLD Plate Final with a 60-27 win at Tipton.
Luke Brodrick grabbed a brace of tries for Lincoln and Jack Miles, Will Czajkowski, Aidan ‘AJ’ Davies, Jacob Taylor, Freddie McCartney, Michael Ward, Ed Crowe and Kian Richardson each scored one.
Lincoln’s remaining points came via Miles and Brodrick who successfully slotted over three and two conversions respectively.
Another huge positive for Lincoln in the semi-final were the performances of three Colts - Harry Money, Fred McCartney and Michael Ward. Having experienced players like club stalwarts David Beveridge and Andy Donnor playing alongside them has aided their transition into senior rugby.
It took 15 minutes for the first points of the match and the move started with an excellent 50/20 kick from Miles. From the resulting lineout, Lincoln won the ball and Swaby set up Miles, who drove through into contact and went over for a try just to the left of the posts, which he also converted.
Lincoln soon increased their lead when Czajkowski won the chase to his own kick through to go over for a try out wide.
Three tries in less than 10 minutes proved crucial for Lincoln, starting with Taylor winning the ball from a jackal on the halfway line. The visitors then moved the ball back inside and Miles made great yards before offloading to Brodrick, who ran in for a great try.
Brodrick was soon involved again as he made great yards before popping the ball out wide to Czajkowski, who was stopped just short of the try line.
The ball was then shipped back inside to colt Harry Money, who made good yards before setting up a ruck. Paul Swaby then fed Miles, who passed the ball out wide to the wing for Davies to score a try.
Tupton reduced the deficit after a quickly taken penalty saw them run in for a try just to the left of the posts.
However, Lincoln responded very quickly and, after Tupton overthrew a lineout on halfway, Taylor intercepted the ball and ran in for a try in the corner.
There was still time for one more Lincoln try in the first half. A great piece of interplay through the backs saw the ball worked out wide to Davies, who was held up just short of the try line.
Andy Donnor then took a crash ball and drew in the Tupton forwards before offloading out wide to set up Brodrick’s second try of the afternoon.
Brodrick successfully slotted over the conversion to give Lincoln a 34-7 lead going in at the break.
Indiscipline by Lincoln in the early stages of the second half allowed Tupton to add a penalty and an unconverted try to cut the gap in the score to 34-15.
Straight from the kick-off after Tupton’s try, the hosts allowed the ball to bounce into no man’s land. Colt Freddie McCartney ran through to the pick up the loose ball and sprinted clear unchallenged to go over for a try, which Miles converted.
Tupton responded when a 50/22 attempt by Lincoln was caught by the wind and the hosts ended up with penalty soon after. They caught Lincoln asleep and drove through to score a try wide out to the right and the conversion was also added.
Lincoln then turned the ball over in their own half before Miles popped it out to Ward in space in the middle of the park. Ward ran through a gap and around a defender before beating the full-back to touch the ball down for a try, which Miles converted.
Tupton broke through to score a try just to the right of the posts as the game began to break down in the final 10 minutes of the match. Lincoln also lost two players to the sin bin, while one Tupton player was given a yellow card.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Lincoln made a good break in the centre of the park. Czajkowski drew in some Tupton players before popping the ball off to his right to Crowe, who burst through to power over for a try. Brodrick added the extras.
In the final minute, Brodrick kicked a penalty wide into the corner and, from the resulting lineout, the ball dropped to Richardson who ran in for a try to the left of the posts.
Lincoln will now face Kesteven’s 2nd XV in the NLD Plate Final at Buxton Rugby Club on Saturday, May 3, 2025. They will be keen to add more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet after winning the NLD Bowl last season, but know they face tough opposition and will need to show more of the same determination in the final.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
After the match Lincoln’s 3rd XV Manager Tony Clayton said: “This was one of the best team performances this season.
“Excellent strength and commitment by both forwards and backs, providing great lines of running and support play.
“A mix of experience and youth with three Colts integrating into senior rugby, all fitting in and playing exceptionally well.
“Apart from the obvious, we can take many positives and I was able to learn lots about the players.
“Individually and as a squad we played the 3s way - with complete togetherness.”
Lincoln’s 3rd XV captain Tom Wilson was delighted to mark his birthday weekend with a big victory.
“Semi-finals are never easy, but the lads turned up with the right mindset and put in a serious shift from start to finish,” he said. “We stuck together, played some great rugby, and got the job done.
“Tupton fought well and made sure we had to keep focused throughout the game.
“We’ve got a cup final to look forward to now on the 3rd of May and we’ll be working hard over the next few weeks to make sure we’re ready for it.”
Team sponsor Jak Bollan Developments Ltd said how proud he was that Lincoln has reached a cup final for the second year running.
