Leigh Dearden and Clare Brown were among the award winners at Lincoln Rugby Club's presentation evening. Photo: Joseph Verney
Lincoln Rugby Club held its annual end-of-season presentation evening on Friday to recognise the achievements of the senior sides.
First Team
Four of the first team’s award winners Leigh Dearden, Jack Kinsey, Lewis Wilson and Mike Keegan. Photo: Joseph Verney
Retiring forward Jim Calveley and fellow second row Leigh Dearden were named as joint Player of the Season by head coach Simon Green.
Centre Jack Kinsey picked up the Players’ Player of the Season award, while winger Mike Keegan was named Young Player of the Season.
Lewis Wilson finished the season as the team’s top try scorer with eight and he won the Most Improved Player of the Season award.
A notable mention also went to Adam Smith who is leaving the club after an impressive season.
First team captain Will Scammell said: “The club presentation evening rounded off what was a successful season for all senior men’s and women’s teams at Lincoln.
“From a first team perspective I think a mid-table finish, in our first season in a very competitive midlands division two, is something to be proud of and I’m certain we’ll be up there challenging for top spot next season. A long hard pre-season awaits.”
Second Team
Lincoln second team’s double award winner George Pomfret. Photo: Joseph Verney
Second team coach Aaron Bird presented George Pomfret with two awards as the young forward was named as Coach’s and Players’ Player of the Season.
Third Team
Third team award winners Chris Smith and Ryan Tinsley. Photo: Joseph Verney
Third team captain Adam Kelleher named prop Sven Durasamy as his player of the season. Photo: Joseph Verney
Young full-back Ryan Tinsley, who has also played flanker, scrum-half, fly-half and centre this season, won the Players’ Player of the Season award.
Tinsley, along with Chris Smith, finished as the third team’s top try scorer with five.
Third team captain Adam Kelleher named prop Sven Durasamy as his Player of the Season.
CJ McAllister and David Speedy were given special shirts as they are both leaving the club due to moving away.
Lincoln Ladies
Lincoln Ladies’ award winners Clare Brown, Jordine Devereau and Helen Francis. Photo: Joseph Verney
Lincoln Ladies’ players and coaching staff at the awards night. Photo: Joseph Verney
Clare Brown finished the season as the club’s top try scorer with 13 and she was named as Lincoln Ladies’ Player of the Season by the management trio of Lizzie Kirk, Brian Kelly and Lucy Prescott.
Helen Francis had never picked up a rugby ball until September 2017, but after a superb season she was named as Players’ Player of the Season.
Jordine Devereau won the Most Improved Player of the Season award.
Lizzie announced she is stepping down from her role after four years as head coach and she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step down as head coach and I’ve passed the role on to Brian Kelly, who I have every faith in, and I’m proud of the ladies and how the team has developed over the years with growing numbers.”
Youth Section
Lincoln’s Under-12s proudly graduate to the Junior ranks of youth rugby.
Tom Clay was among the youth award winners as he was named as the Under-10s Players’ Player of the Season and the whole team were given an RAF sponsored Lincoln Rugby hoody.
Max Prescott won the Under-10s Respect award.
Finn Clements won the Under-10s Teamwork Trophy. Kaden Rogers won for ‘Enjoyment’ and Charlie Bargh for ‘Sportsmanship’.
Under-7s left to right with their award titles – Harry Quibell (respect), Alex Morgan (enjoyment), Elliot Culter (teamwork), Harry Braithwaite (sportsmanship).
Under-11s left to right with their award titles – Archie Rossington (sportsmanship), Tyler Lynch (enjoyment) and Harry Money (respect). Zachary Dick won the teamwork award.
Lincoln’s Girls players and coaching staff including the award winners – Most Improved Player Ella Mycroft, Players’ Player Polly Swann and Coach’s Player Katie Davies.
Lincoln’s youth section celebrated its end-of-season annual presentations on Sunday, May 13 with several winners across all age groups.
Youth chairman Mel Green said: “I would like to congratulate every player and the dedicated team of volunteers who provide youth rugby at Lincoln.”
Club Accreditation
Gareth Short from the RFU presented Lincoln Rugby Club with its new accreditation on Sunday. Photo: Grant Henman
Gareth Short from the RFU presented Lincoln’s assistant director of rugby Robert Boultwood and head of youth Mel Green with the club’s new accreditation on Sunday, May 13.
Meanwhile, Lincoln will host Sedgley Park in a friendly on Saturday, May 19.
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”