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.
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NHS COVID passes will no longer be required by law at venues and mandatory face coverings have been scrapped as part of the government’s announcement to move out of Plan B restrictions from Thursday.
The rules were introduced over the Christmas period to combat the rapid growth of cases brought on by the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
In Lincolnshire, the situation worsened to the extent of critical and major incidents being declared at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust due to huge staffing issues.
However, the government has now called for these Plan B restrictions to be relaxed, meaning the rules have been reverted mostly to what they were pre-Omicron.
From Thursday, January 27, people in England will no longer be legally required to wear face coverings in indoor settings, except for on public transport in London, where it remains mandatory.
The Department for Education is advising masks are no longer needed in communal areas at schools, though directors of public health for local authorities will have the option to reintroduce measures if cases spike again.
You will also not need to show an NHS COVID pass at venues and events by law anymore, but the relevant venues can still ask for COVID passes at their own discretion.
It comes a week after staff and pupils in secondary schools were told they didn’t need to wear masks in classrooms anymore, and eight days on from working from home guidance being scrapped.
The next measures to be changed will be on February 11, when there will be no requirement for vaccinated passengers arriving in England to do lateral flow tests once they arrive.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will need to test before they leave England, as well as taking a post-arrival PCR test, but they will not need to isolate straight away.
A Lincoln biotechnology firm has been awarded a research grant of more than £500,000 to improve poultry welfare and reduce waste.
The £514,000 Innovate UK grant, awarded to Arden Biotechnology, will fund a two year project to develop a natural solution to a disease that results in paralysis and painful bone deformities in poultry – without relying on antibiotics.
The wider aim of the project is to improve welfare, and reduce feed usage and food waste, resulting in less carbon emissions.
Arden Biotechnology, based at the Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, and Avara Foods, one of the UK’s largest poultry producers, are working together to develop the solution.
Dr Joseph Brown, Research Director at Arden Biotechnology, said: ““The bacteria we are looking to control is naturally present in healthy chickens, but in some cases, the bacteria get to where they normally aren’t and form cyst- like growths within the spine resulting in paralysis.
“This paralysis means the birds can’t feed or drink and unfortunately die from dehydration or starvation unless there is an interventioned. Previously antibiotics, now largely banned from the food chain, kept this avian pathogen – Enterococcus cecorum- under control.”
According to the World Health Organisation, feed accounts for 78% of greenhouse gases in poultry production. In reducing the amount of pathogenic bacteria that are associated with poor feed conversion ratio, birds are able to gain weight in a more efficient manner. This means that less feed is consumed to achieve target weights.
Dr Brown added: “So the natural solution we are researching would support the agricultural transition to a net zero carbon emission industry through reduced feed usage, reduced food waste and improved welfare.”
Our headquarters will once again be lit up bright purple this evening for Holocaust Memorial Day.
The day of commemoration takes place today, 27 January, to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The date was chosen as it falls on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
Those persecuted and who lost their lives in other genocides, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, are also remembered.
The theme for this year is “One Day” – one day we put aside to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, celebrate individual identities, and work towards a future in which there is no genocide.
Force HQ, in Nettleham, will be bathed in purple light tonight as we join the international act of remembrance. We believe it is crucial to remember those who lost their lives and stand in solidarity with those who still feel that impact today.
Chief Constable Chris Haward said:
“This is a hugely important day for us all to stop, and to think.
“To think about the suffering endured by so many, and what those events meant and still mean to our Jewish communities.
“What happened during the Second World War, and in other genocides through the 20th Century and into the 21st, were horrific and almost unspeakable. But learning from history is part of our responsibility to make sure these events do not happen again.
“So please take some time out today – one day – to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust, the lives lost, and what we can all do to make sure these horrors never happen again.”
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