Rugby Report: Frustrating weekend for Lincoln’s men’s teams

Lincoln’s 1st XV’s struggles on the road continued as the visitors were made to pay for their mistakes in a 41-10 defeat at Dronfield.

Lincoln have yet to win away in the league this season, but if they can transfer their home form, of three wins in as many games, into their travels it won’t be long before positive results follow.

Dronfield took a 15-0 lead in at half-time before extending their advantage with two tries after the break.

Lincoln refused to give up and reduced the deficit after a few pick and goes by the forwards set up Laurence Few for a crash ball over the line for his second try of the season.

Dronfield crossed for a further two tries to secure victory, but Lincoln continued to battle hard with a more dominant spell in the final 20 minutes of the match which was rewarded with a try. Mitch Ashworth offloaded the ball from the back of a ruck to Grant Laws, who dived over for his first try for the 1st XV.

After the match Laws said: “They were just a more physical side and we had too many individual mistakes that let us down. But everyone kept working and the last 20 minutes was the most dominant we were all game, it’s just a shame it came too late.”

Centre Jack Miles, who was playing in his third match since breaking into the first team, added: “They had fast hands and were very good at capitalising on our mistakes that cost us three tries alone.

“When we played to our phases we made good progress, we just strayed too far from our structure too often and got sucked into their game.”

Tries from George Chirila and Sam Moate, which were both converted by player-manager Brad Nixon, were not enough to prevent Lincoln Imps XV from losing 34-14 at home against Notts Medics.

After the match Lincoln Imps XV captain James Johnson said: “Throughout the game we dominated the set pieces and were able to get some much needed field position.

“However, due to a lack of tackling and fitness a young Notts Medics team managed to run through us and bag themselves some easy tries.”

Three unanswered second-half tries proved decisive as Lincoln’s 3rd XV lost 24-5 at home against in-form Castle Donington.

Lincoln youngster Matt Eggleston went over for a try after a quickly-taken tap penalty to cut the gap to 7-5 at half-time, but Castle Donington secured their fifth win in a row with further tries after the break.

After the match 3rd XV captain Adam Kelleher said: “It was a tough game with a good strong first half and a second half that started well, but got away from us due to poor discipline and lack of training.”

Lincoln’s 1st XV host Earlsdon in the RFU Intermediate Cup on Saturday, while the Imps XV travel to face Paviors.

Lincoln’s Youth Section enjoyed some recent success after Joseph Thompson, Harry Stroud, Tyler Williams and Flynn Smith all played in the Junior National Touch Championships, while Polly Swan and Ella Mycroft finished as national champions.

Smith and Thompson have also recently been selected in the England Touch training squad.

Mike Jorden, who does the junior touch training and helped nurture these players through, said: “We have only been running the junior touch team for two years so it’s fantastic to see the development of the players in all areas of rugby and I know these guys will support and inspire the younger players in the club to progress at all levels.”

There was also a superb result for Lincoln’s Under-16s on Sunday, who won 75-0 at Spalding.

OTHER RESULTS Elsewhere in the county, league leaders Scunthorpe claimed a 15-8 win over Sandbach thanks to tries from Ollie Cole and Sam Morgan. Paul Cook added one conversion and a penalty.

In Midlands Two East (North) Tom Stephens crossed for two tries as second-placed Market Rasen & Louth won 35-12 away at Newark. Nick Harvey, George Grant and Matt Ashton grabbed a try apiece, with Tom Alldridge adding two conversions and two penalties.

It was a great weekend for the Lincolnshire sides in Midlands Three East (South) as bottom club Bourne claimed a much-needed 30-12 win over Dunstablians. Fourth-placed Stamford beat Queens 58-19.

In Midlands Three East (North) Sleaford got their first league win of the season with a 24-22 victory over Rolls Royce. Tom Wormington grabbed two tries with the other coming from Curtis Key and Daniel Mackie added three second-half penalties.

Dan Turner crossed for two tries, with Gav Purvis adding the other, as Kesteven suffered a narrow 19-15 defeat at Belper. Josh Udom grabbed a hat-trick as Kesteven’s second team beat West Bridgford’s 3rd XV 90-14 in a friendly. Kesteven Ladies won 30-0 away at Belper. Spalding beat Nottingham Moderns 49-19.

In Midlands Four East (North) Grimsby suffered a narrow 31-27 defeat at Chesterfield Panthers. Kieran Dinnes and Chris Moore each grabbed two tries, with Luke Thornton crossing for the other, and Luke Chaplin added one conversion.

North Hykeham won 40-10 at Skegness thanks to two tries from Gareth Alder-Woolf. Steve Quinlan, George Cope, Richard Bevan and Nathan Barker each grabbed a try apiece, with Chris Kirkham adding five conversions. Cleethorpes beat Gainsborough 54-21. Boston were given a home walkover against Meden Vale.