GRIMSBY COLTS 17
LINCOLN COLTS 33
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: EMMA RYLAND
Stan Matthews crossed for a hat-trick of tries as Lincoln Colts claimed an impressive 33-17 win at Grimsby.
Jack Harvey grabbed a brace of tries for Lincoln and Matthews successfully slotted over four conversions.
Harry Elliot and Toby Sargent scored Grimsby’s tries and Freddie Burnett kicked one conversion. Jamie Anderson kicked one conversion and a penalty.
The opening stages of the match were a bit to and fro both ways until Lincoln scored the first try after five minutes.
Grimsby tried to spread the ball wide, but lost it in midfield and Henry McCartney ran 20 metres down the left-hand side of the pitch. McCartney then offloaded the ball to Harvey who outpaced the defence to run in for a try under the posts, which Matthews converted.
Lincoln increased their lead after stealing possession from Grimsby on the halfway line. After a couple of phases in the middle of the pitch, Lincoln spread the ball wide out to the left. Matthews then picked up the ball from the back of a ruck and ran through unopposed before going around the full-back to score.
After some excellent play by Lincoln the ball was kicked left to put the Grimsby winger under pressure.
It wasn’t long before Lincoln were in again as Grimsby attempted to play it wide, but Harvey got in between their outside centre and winger to intercept the ball and run 50 metres for a try.
Matthews also added the conversion to give Lincoln a 19-0 lead going in at the break.
Lincoln gave away a penalty early in the second half and, after a couple of failed lineouts from the hosts, Grimsby were able to put some good phases together.
Lincoln were slow to react at a ruck and Elliot scooted through and broke through two tackles to go over for a try. Burnett added the extras.
A good backs move from a scrum saw stand-off Mathews break a tackle to go over for a try, which he also converted.
Grimsby saw a player sent off after a fracas, which also caused a Lincoln player to be shown a yellow card.
Grimsby refused to give up and reduced the deficit when Anderson slotted over a penalty.
The hosts cut the gap in the score further after some phase play wide out on the right set up a try for Sargent. Anderson added the extras.
From the kick-off, Grimsby fumbled the ball in midfield and Lincoln got the turnover. After a good bit of phase play by Lincoln, Grimsby gave away a penalty for going off their feet at the ruck.
Lincoln reacted quickly and took a quick tap before the ball went through the hands to Matthews, who sidestepped his way through to defence to go over for a try and complete his hat-trick.
Matthews slotted over another conversion to complete a great victory.
POST MATCH COMMENT
After the match Lincoln Colts Head Coach Brian Kelly said: “The boys showed some real understanding of game management against Grimsby.
“They knew Grimsby would want a forwards based match and the lads countered it brilliantly, forcing mistakes around the rucks and kicking for field position faultlessly.
“With several backs missing and some returning faces in the forwards they showed they can adapt their game to play to their strengths.
“The whole coaching team is really impressed with how they’re developing.”
