It was a weekend to remember for Lincoln Colts after two wins in three days against Southwell and Grimsby.
Lincoln Colts Green travelled to Southwell on Friday night and came away with an impressive 54-5 victory, including a brace apiece from Morgan Jones and Max Cartwright.
Then on Sunday, Finn Clements grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Lincoln Reds claimed an emphatic 47-7 home victory over Grimsby.
Southwell Vs Lincoln
Lincoln opened the scoring after just seven minutes after a good lineout and running a meerkat in the midfield of the field. Matthews then ran through a gap and around the outside of the Southwell players to score a great try, which he also converted.
From the kick-off Matthews caught the ball on Lincoln’s 22 before passing to centre James Thomas, who drew in a player and popped it out to Cartwright. Cartwright carried the ball over the opposition 10 metre line before offloading to Dylan Adnitt. The flanker then ran to the full-back and then tipped the ball back inside for Cartwright to score. Matthews added the extras.
The game then became a bit to and fro before Southwell ended up with a scrum. They then kicked it and the ball was gathered by Preston Love, who collected it at full-back. He then drove it in and flicked it onto the supporting player before three passes to the right set up Jones. Jones then ran in between the full-back and the covering Southwell player to go over for a try under the posts, which Matthews converted.
Lincoln still had time to score another try to ensure they took a commanding 28-0 lead in at the break. Cartwright went on a great run and made 35 metres before eventually being hauled down by the Southwell defence. After one drive to the right, Lincoln recycled the ball and spread it out wide to Jones, who beat three defenders and ran in for his second try of the afternoon, which Matthews converted.
Lincoln increased their lead within four minutes of the restart after a scrum on the opposition 22. A decent backs move saw the ball end up in the hands of Kieron Fields and he outstripped the cover defence to score.
After a decent period of play resulted in a scrum, Lincoln ran and split the middle of the opposition defence to the 10 metre line. The ball was then flicked out to Cartwright who ran through the defence to score a try, which Matthews converted.
Lincoln were reduced to 14 players after an initial yellow card was upgraded to a red. That didn’t deter the hosts who produced a series of good attacking moves down the left-hand side of the pitch.
There was then a lengthy stoppage in the match after a head injury to one of the Southwell players.
When the injury happened one of the Southwell players was off his feet at the ruck, so when the game resumed it was a penalty to Lincoln five metre out. Charlie Bargh took it quickly to go over for a try and James Thomas excellently added the conversion.
From the kick-off, Lincoln made a mess of the restart, but managed to rescue it. From a ruck, Love managed to sneak through from the scrum-half position and carry the ball from his 22 into the opposition 22. Cartwright then chipped the ball over the top for Thomas to score a try, which he also converted.
Lincoln Vs Grimsby
Lincoln put in another good performance and were dominant in the scrum. From an early scrum, Harry Briggs picked the ball up off the loose out the back. The ball then went through the hands before a good breakdown and Zane Redfern tipped the ball on for Bargh to score. Kyran Makinson successfully slotted over the conversion.
Grimsby hit back after a missed tackle from a scrum saw them run in for a converted try to level the score.
Lincoln soon regained their lead after a loose penalty from Grimsby was gathered by Finn McKenna, who made a break before setting up Finn Clements for a try.
From the kick-off Redfern caught the ball and offloaded it to Bargh. Al Seaward, RedFern and Bargh ran down the left-hand side before the latter went over for a try, which Makinson converted.
Lincoln were in again when Euan Lowe picked up the ball from the back of a scrum and ran around the outside to score a try. Makinson added the extras.
An excellent steal at the lineout from Briggs resulted in a good move from a ruck, before the ball went through the hands to set up another try for Lowe. Makinson successfully kicked the conversion.
McKenna ran through the centre to collect a nice wide ball and he was well supported for a 3-on-1 down the right-hand side of the pitch. The ball made its way out to Clements who ran through the middle to score his second try of the afternoon, which Makinson converted.
A great team try with excellent support play, and the ball going through everyone’s hands, set up Clements to go over for a try to complete his hat-trick.
Makinson added the extras to complete a fine victory for Lincoln.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
Lincoln Colts Coach Brian Kelly said: "An amazing weekend for Lincoln RFC Colts. It is the first time two Colts teams have played in one weekend for Lincoln.
"With the Lincoln Green team on Friday evening featuring just three senior Colt it was an opportunity for players to show their skills.
"The game against Southwell proved to be an early indiciation of the depth we have in the Colts squad, with some amazing performances from the players.
"All credit goes to Southwell who never stopped battling despite the 5-54 scoreline.
"Grimsby on Sunday was the Colts first legaue game of the season and Lincoln Reds produced an equally commanding performance to run out 47-7 victors.
"We knew we had a really good group of players, but this weekend has proven how much potential we have."
Director of Age Grade Rugby Chris Briggs, who watched the Lincoln Red team beat Grimsby, said: "The result speaks for itself and I would like to credit the Lincoln players for their discipline. It is something we discussed before the game amd all players gave a good account of themselves.
"Some of the ball movement was brilliant, but I am most proud of the way we kept our discipline."
Briggs added: "Being able to put two Colts teams out in a Lincoln shirt this weekend is massive."
