SKEGNESS RUGBY CLUB 5
LINCOLN IMPS XV 21
NLD MERIT TABLE EAST 1
BY TONY CLAYTON AND JOSEPH VERNEY
Lincoln Imps XV continued their unbeaten start to the season as new captain Sam Cave guided them to a hard-fought 21-5 victory against a strong and determined Skegness side.
The visitors scored all their points in the first half and then had to absorb sizeable pressure on their own try line in the second as Skegness pressed hard to try and get back into the match.
Skegness had the best of the early territorial battle and were awarded a penalty in Lincoln’s half, but a scuffed effort relieved the pressure.
Lincoln opened the scoring midway through the first half when winger Jake Keeton went on a mazy run into the opposition half to set up a ruck.
Lincoln’s Number Eight Mick Glenfield then picked up the ball and broke the line with a lung-bursting 30 metre run to the line to score a try, which fly-half Jack Randell converted.
Following a balanced period of play, Skegness conceded a penalty which Randell kicked to the corner. A strong lineout was won by Cave to set up a powerful driving maul that Skegness had no answer to, allowing hooker James Johnson to control from the rear and touch down for a try.
Randell’s looping conversion attempt crept over the bar to extend Lincoln’s lead.
The ball was exchanged between the sides in a real centre-of-the-pitch arm wrestle before Lincoln moved further in front with a try on the stroke of half-time.
Randell intercepted a speculative Skegness pass to run 70 metres and swan dive over for a try under the posts, which he also converted to give Lincoln a 21-0 lead going in at the break.
A resurgent Skegness pressed hard in the second half suppressing any advantage Lincoln thought they had, testing the visitors in a way they had not been tested yet this season.
Skegness were unlucky not to reduce the deficit sooner, but they were kept out by some last ditch tackling by Chris Smith and Sam Cowles, as well as some dogged Lincoln defence.
The hosts scored the try their performance deserved in the closing minutes of the match. After sustained pressure and several phases, with great recycling from the Skegness pack, Ash Dennis produced an out of the back offload to set up vice captain Adam Ongley. The prop then powered over the line to score with some extra shove from supporting players.
The result means that Lincoln remain unbeaten in the league and there were several positives for the visitors, including a man-of-the-match performance from flanker Ollie Keen.
POST MATCH COMMENTS
New Lincoln Imps XV captain Sam Cave said: “Firstly I want to thank everyone who took the trip down and supported, and a big thank you to Skegness for hosting a great, physical game of rugby.
“We worked a lot during the week to improve on key areas from last week and I think that really showed.
“The first half in particular our pack showed dominance and allowed us to play our rugby.
“The lads put in a monumental shift defensively over the last phase of the game. Whilst everyone played well, a particular shout out to man-of-the-match Ollie Keen for an incredible defensive performance across the whole 80 minutes.”
Skegness captain Dean Brian said: “After a very hard-fought first half leaving us 21-0 down, the half-time teamtalk got us all fired up and it was a different Skegness team second half with a different mentality.
“The lads played some amazing rugby and won the second half 5-0 against a top, well-drilled side.
“I couldn’t be prouder of every single player and hopefully we will take the momentum onto next week’s game. Keep your heads held high boys.”
Lincoln coach, Andy Miles said: “We took our foot off the gas in the second half and were heavily tested. We became too predictable and need to work on varying our game play ahead of our next game”.
His fellow Lincoln coach Adam ‘Trig’ Kelleher added: “The second half called for a strong defensive performance, and we delivered in buckets full. We’ll take the positives and I’m proud of the effort and dedication every player contributed”.
