Tries from Matt Keeton, Josh Pratt and James Kirk saw Lincoln’s 1st XV push second-placed Dronfield all the way in a battling 19-17 defeat.
Great tackles from Kirk and Richie Dixon kept Dronfield out in the early stages before the visitors opened the scoring through James Marshall’s try, which Joe Farrell converted.
James Kirk in action for Lincoln against Dronfield. Photo: Mike Lincoln
Lincoln reduced the deficit when a forward drive set up Keeton to force his way over for a try.
Dronfield captain Matt Hale made a powerful run through the defence and took advantage of some missed tackles to go over for a try to give the visitors a 12-5 half-time lead.
Lincoln’s Joe Moore putting in a big tackle on a Dronfield player. Photo: Mike Lincoln
Dronfield increased their lead within a minute of the restart as flanker Sam Selwood ran in for a try, which Farrell converted.
Lincoln cut the gap in the score to just nine points when Joe Moore ran at the defence before offloading for Pratt to go over for a try near the corner.
Lincoln winger Josh Pratt crossing for a try against Dronfield. Photo: Mike Lincoln
Lincoln’s Joe Moore running at the Dronfield defence. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
The hosts reduced the deficit further when a quick tap by Moore saw the full-back run through the defence before offloading for Kirk to sprint in for a try which he also converted.
Lincoln tried to complete the comeback with good runs from man-of-the-match Lewis Wilson, Kirk, Grant Cowe and captain Leigh Dearden, but Dronfield held on for victory.
Lincoln’s man-of-the-match Lewis Wilson in action against Dronfield. Photo: Tom Eggleston
Lincoln’s 1st XV captain Leigh Dearden leaping to win a lineout. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV captain Leigh Dearden said: “Sadly our start from the kick-off left a little to be desired, with predominantly Lewis Wilson and James Kirk leading the way and playing to the usual first team standard.
“In the second half however all Lincoln’s first team men rose to and delivered the standard expected to wear a Lincoln first team shirt. That’s what’s required when playing a good team sitting deservedly second in the league.”
Lincoln’s 1st XV captain Leigh Dearden in action against Dronfield. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Jaden Harvey capped his senior debut with a superb solo try as he ran from deep inside his own half to score during Lincoln 3rd XV’s 38-12 defeat at Castle Donington.
Lincoln’s other try came from Jake Keeton with Luke Brodrick adding one conversion.
After the match 3rd XV captain Adam Kelleher said: “It was a magnificent second half performance from the team, not only holding Castle Donington back, but dominating play leading to two tries for Lincoln.”
Lincoln Touch won two games as they finished in sixth place at the Eastern Regional Development tournament in Cambridge on Sunday.
Lincoln Touch squad at the latest tournament in Cambridge.
Lincoln Touch wore their new kit in memory of team founder Mike Beard.
Lincoln Ladies captain Clare Brown has been selected for the 2019/2020 NLD Women’s Rugby team.
Lincoln’s 1st XV travel to face Ilkeston on Saturday. Lincoln Imps XV saw their match against Notts Medics called off by the opposition last time out and they return to action with a trip to Skegness. Lincoln’s 3rd XV face a home friendly against a Coach’s XV.
OTHER RESULTS Elsewhere in the county, leaders Scunthorpe lost 32-17 at Sandbach in the Midlands Premier. Jacob Hardy and Dave Garbutt scored Scunthorpe’s tries with Paul Cook adding two conversions and a penalty.
In Midlands Two East (North) Market Rasen & Louth secured an impressive 33-10 victory over Newark thanks to two tries from Will Pridgeon. Will Inman, Jake Mckay and Ben Youngs also grabbed a try apiece with Spen Holvey adding four conversions.
Bourne claimed their fifth league win in a row with a 24-20 win at Dunstablians in Midlands Three East (South). Stamford won 18-12 at Queens.
In Midlands Three East (North) Sleaford suffered a narrow 17-15 defeat at Rolls Royce with Hugh McAuley scoring his first 1st XV try for the visitors. Dan Mackie added a try, conversion and a penalty.
James Hough and Aston-Lee Hodgson grabbed a try apiece, with Jamie Armstrong adding a conversion, as Sleaford’s 2nd XV won 12-5 at North Hykeham. Steve Manning scored North Hykeham’s try.
Sleaford Ladies remained in high spirits after the match despite the result. Photo: Shaun Parkes of Sparx Photography
Karolina Kacirkova scored two tries as Sleaford Ladies lost 12-10 at Sileby Vikings. She was also recently selected in the 2019/2020 NLD Women’s Rugby team.
Try scorer Karolina Kacirkova breaking away for Sleaford. Photo: Shaun Parkes of Sparx Photography
Aaron Whittaker scored a hat-trick of tries as Kesteven’s 1st XV beat Belper 34-10. Dan Turner crossed for two tries and Tom Miles added one, with Ben Whinney kicking two conversions.
Kesteven’s 2nd XV won 38-17 at Ilkeston. Kesteven Ladies won 15-5 at home against Belper. Spalding men’s 1st XV lost 29-26 at Nottingham Moderns.
Rob Booth reaching for the try line during North Hykeham’s victory over Skegness. Photo: Neil Sturge
In an all Lincolnshire clash in Midlands Four East (North) North Hykeham came out on top with a 19-12 victory over Skegness.
Michael Wainwright, Ryan Carr and Rob Booth scored a try apiece for North Hykeham with the latter adding two conversions.
North Hykeham’s Sam Doyle running at the Skegness defence. Photo: Neil Sturge
Captain Matthew Deane crossed for both of Skegness’ tries with Rikki Bovey adding one conversion.
Skegness captain Matthew Deane tackling North Hykeham’s Gareth Alder-Woolf. Photo: Neil Sturge
Jaron Cowern, Luke Fowler and David Cotton-Betteridge celebrating one of Boston’s tries. Photo: David Dales
Jaron Cowern and Will Scupham grabbed two tries apiece as Boston thrashed Meden Vale 75-5.
Lewis Eldin, Luke Fowler, Harry Woods, Josh Cook, Michael Baldwin, David Cotton-Betteridge and Tom Hobbs each crossed for a try with Matt Bray adding 10 conversions.
Luke Fowler crossed for his ninth try of the season during Boston’s 75-5 win over Meden Vale. Photo: David Dales
Brad Treacher scored a try and a penalty as Grimsby claimed a 13-0 home win over Chesterfield Panthers. Tom Baker scored Grimsby’s other try.
Tries from captain Dan McDaid, Matty Searle, Isaac Machon, Andrew Carruthers, Alex Nabais and Joe Barker guided Cleethorpes to a 36-15 win at Gainsborough. Patrick Hughes kicked three conversions.
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A Lincoln-based photographer has spoken of her love of capturing images of spectacular aircraft flying in the county’s skies.
Claire Hartley’s main photography interests are aviation and nature and several of her pictures have been published, including of the Red Arrows as the sun was low on a winter’s day which featured on the front page of The Times.
In an interview with BBC Look North, Claire said it’s “nice to know that people want to use” her photographs and she picked out to of her personal favourites from her collection.
This photo of a Lancaster flying over Tattershall Castle is a personal favourite of Claire’s. | Screenshot: Claire Hartley/BBC
A photo she took of a Lancaster flying back to Coningsby over Tattershall Castle will always be a favourite, with Claire saying: “That was one of those days where I just sat out in the rain and then just for a split second it came really good just as it passed over the top of the castle.”
She added that her second favourite “is probably one of the Red Arrows” flying in formation.
Claire’s photo of the Red Arrows was used on the front page of The Times. | Screenshot: Claire Hartley/BBC
“It’s not a technically perfect shot, it’s not very good resolution, but it’s the first one for me that took off on social media and that’s kind of the one that made things work for me,” she said.
A group of pupils in Sleaford have represented their school at a recent national track and field event, with four relay runners winning their race and earning the crown of English champions for their age.
On Saturday, July 2, an Inter Girls Athletics team made up of year 9 and 10 students from St George’s Academy in Sleaford, took part in the English Schools Athletics Association Track and Field Cup National Finals in Oxfordshire.
The girls qualified for the event for the first time in the school’s history after winning the regional round comfortably in Derby on June 16.
Heading into the national final they were already the best school for girls’ athletics in the whole North Midlands, and despite difficult conditions they did themselves and their school proud.
Lily Wilcox and Holly Dilks ahead of their triple jump competition.
The team consisted of 15 athletes and one team manager, they were:
Kyla Copus – Team Manager
Lily Wilcox
Lucy Cullum
Laurel Mountain
Maddie Cody
Freya Nicol
Holly Dilks
Holly Johnson
Keira Woollaston
Izzie Hemmant
Gabby Greig
Sienna Slater
Tia Coulson
Natasha Doggett
Holly Young
Tegan Thompson
Notable achievements for the girls were a 2nd place finish for Keira Woollaston, who threw a new personal best in the Hammer event, as well as a 4th place in the 100m for Sienna Slater. Her time of 13.0 seconds saw her qualify for the English Schools competition too.
Freya Nicol, Maddie Cody, Tegan Thompson and Natasha Doggett are officially the fastest school relay team in the country!
However, it was the relay team of Tegan Thompson, Maddie Cody, Freya Nicol and Natasha Doggett who stole the show – winning their race with an impressive time of 57.2 seconds.
St George’s Academy finished in 11th place out of 13 competing teams, missing out on the top 10 by just 15 points across the board.
In a competition dominated by independent and grammar schools, the performance of St George’s Academy caught the eye as the Lincolnshire-based girls took on, and in some instances beat, some of the best athletes in the entire country.
The girls did fantastically well competing against some of the country’s top young athletes.
Miss Cox, the coach of the team and a PE teacher at St George’s Academy, said: “I am so proud of what the girls have achieved this season and they have been a pleasure to work with!
“Their successes have been as a result of a huge team effort; commitment and dedication to training has been exceptional and the bond and friendship between the girls has driven them to push for more.
“They have become role models to younger year groups and are inspiring the younger teams to be as positive and enthusiastic about Athletics as they are.”