Lincoln's try scorers James Kirk and Laurence Few helping to thwart the Ilkeston attack. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Lincoln’s 1st XV suffered frustration on the road after a controversial try at Ilkeston saw them succumb to a second successive 19-17 defeat.
The visitors opened the scoring when Laurence Few took the ball on a hard line against the grain about five metres out to go over for his fifth try of the season. Richie Dixon successfully slotted over the conversion.
Laurence Few scoring a try for Lincoln’s 1st XV against Ilkeston. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Ilkeston reduced the deficit with an unconverted try before Dixon kicked a penalty to give Lincoln a narrow 10-5 lead going in at the break.
The match turned on a controversial moment in the second half where what proved to be a decisive try was scored.
Lincoln’s players huddle together on the pitch at Ilkeston. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Lincoln’s Joe Moore running through the Ilkeston defence. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
The referee appeared to blow his whistle and signal for an Ilkeston knock-on. The hosts then picked up the ball and went over for a try, which the referee still awarded to the bemusement of the Lincoln players.
Ilkeston crossed for their third try of the match to increase their lead to 19-10, but Lincoln refused to give up and soon cut the gap in the score to just two points.
Lincoln’s Richie Dixon in action against Ilkeston. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Dixon put a grubber kick through for Kirk to collect and the Malta international ran in for a try to become Lincoln’s joint top scorer so far this season.
Dixon successfully slotted over the conversion as Lincoln continued to battle to try and turn the game around. Ilkeston held on for a narrow victory, but Lincoln still secured a losing bonus point.
Lincoln scrum-half Mitch Ashworth running at the Ilkeston defence. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
The result puts Ilkeston level on points with Lincoln, who remain in sixth place in Midlands Two East (North) and above their Derbyshire opponents on points difference.
After the match Lincoln try scorer Few said: “Overall it was a dogged performance. We tried to play our game plan and just lacked execution.
“Unfortunately we didn’t take our opportunities when they came to us. It was just the final 5% that let us down.”
Laurence Few in action for Lincoln’s 1st XV away at Ilkeston. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
Lincoln’s 1st XV travel to face Bourne in the semi-final of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup on Saturday. The winners will play against either Scunthorpe’s 2nd XV or Stamford in May’s final.
Lincoln Imps XV and 3rd XV both saw their last games called off. The Imps XV return to action with a home match against Paviors on Saturday. Lincoln Ladies host Coalville on Sunday.
Lincoln’s 1st XV captain Leigh Dearden running at the Ilkeston defence. Photo: Katie Nesbitt
OTHER RESULTS Elsewhere in the county, leaders Scunthorpe remain top of the Midlands Premier despite a 28-24 defeat at Syston. Will Robinson crossed for two tries with Ollie Cole and Tom Foster grabbing one apiece. Paul Cook added two conversions.
In Midlands Two East (North) Market Rasen & Louth suffered a 34-8 defeat at Ashbourne. Will Stephens scored a try for Market Rasen, whose other points came via a penalty from Spen Holvey.
In Midlands Three East (South) Bourne’s unbeaten league run of five matches was ended by a 26-22 home defeat against Leicester Forest. Stamford beat Rushden & Higham 53-15.
Dan Turner and Tom Miles grabbed two tries apiece as Kesteven won 51-30 at Buxton. Aaron Whittaker, James Goodrich, Harry Cox and Henry Parker each scored one try. Ben Whinney added four conversions and a penalty.
Try scorer Sam Olliver in action for Sleaford Ladies against Mellish. Photo: Shaun Parkes/Sparx Photography
Sleaford Ladies celebrating their 12-5 victory over Mellish.
Sleaford men’s 1st XV suffered a narrow 27-25 defeat at Tupton. Adam Loveday, Josh Stamp, Chris Wells and Dan Mackie scored Sleaford’s tries, with the latter adding a conversion and a penalty. Spalding beat Rolls Royce 74-14.
Tries from Rebecca Grice and Sam Olliver saw Sleaford Ladies end their league season in style with a 12-5 home win over Mellish. Nicki Eden-Smith added one conversion.
Try scorer Rebecca Grice in action for Sleaford Ladies against Mellish. Photo: Shaun Parkes/Sparx Photography
Sleaford Ladies finished the season in style with a victory. Photo: Shaun Parkes/Sparx Photography
North Hykeham showed great composure as they won 24-7 away at Amber Valley in Midlands Four East (North). Richard Bevan, Michael Wainwright, Danny Brown and Rob Booth crossed for Hykeham’s tries with the latter adding two conversions.
North Hykeham host Barton & District in the semi-final of the Lincolnshire Intermediate Cup on Saturday. The winners will face Grimsby in May’s final.
Jaron Cowern scoring a try for Boston against Mellish. Photo: David Dales
Michael Baldwin and Jaron Cowern scored a try apiece as Boston suffered a 31-20 home defeat against Mellish. Matt Bray added two conversions and two penalties.
Tries from Brad Treacher and John Mansfield helped Grimsby to a 13-10 win over local rivals Cleethorpes. Cleethorpes’ Number Eight Adam Beeken crossed for a try with Harry Lightfoot adding a conversion and a penalty as the scores were locked at 10-10 at half-time.
The only points of the second half came via a penalty from Treacher which handed victory to Grimsby.
Ben Bethell scored Gainsborough’s only try in their 28-5 defeat away at league leaders East Retford. Skegness were awarded a home walkover against Nottinghamians.
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
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.”