Rugby Report: Battling league defeat for Lincoln’s 1st XV

Grant Cowe crossed for two tries as Lincoln’s 1st XV began their league campaign with a battling 43-25 home defeat against Long Eaton.

Long Eaton opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Ollie Davidson intercepted a loose pass to race clear for a try, which Luke Bouchier converted.

Lincoln’s Richie Dixon slotted over two penalties to reduce the deficit to just one point after half an hour.

The visitors extended their lead with two decisive tries within minutes of each other from Ryan Beresford and Lewis Giddings. Bouchier added one conversion.

Lincoln, who gave league debuts to Owen Mitchinson and Louie Cooke, responded when the latter offloaded for Josh Pratt to run in for a great try.

Dixon slotted over the conversion, but Long Eaton extended their lead to 22-13 as Bouchier kicked over a penalty with the last play of the first half.

Long Eaton made a strong start to the second half and extended their lead as Del Veenendaal and Beresford both went over tries, which Bouchier converted.

Forward Sam Cowles then set up Lincoln’s man-of-the-match Cowe to power through the defence for a try, which Dixon converted.

Lincoln were soon in again as a quickly taken tap penalty saw Cowe bulldoze his way through the defence for a try.

Long Eaton had the final say as a great grubber kick from Bouchier set up a try for Veenendaal, which Bouchier converted.

After the match Lincoln’s league debutant Owen Mitchinson said: “We worked hard and the effort was there, but little things with tackling left holes which they exploited.

“When we scored tries they were well worked and we showed promise. We just need to work on the defence, which was our biggest downfall.”

Lincoln’s Imps XV saw their home league clash against Nottingham Moderns called off by the opposition. Chris Smith scored the only try of the match for Lincoln’s 3rd XV, who lost 48-5 at Paviors.

Luke Wells scored five tries as Lincoln Colts’ Reds team won 48-5 at Grimsby. Ben Manderfield scored two tries and Jack Randell grabbed one, with the latter adding two conversions. Will Dark also kicked two conversions.

Other Results

Elsewhere in the county, Scunthorpe conceded a try in the final two minutes of the match in an agonising 31-27 home defeat against Sheffield Tigers.

Jacob Hardy, Ollie Cole and Will Robinson scored Scunthorpe’s tries, with the latter adding two penalties and three conversions.

In Midlands Two East (North), Market Rasen & Louth lost 39-24 at Dronfield despite two tries from Will Pridgeon. Jake Pryer and Tom Stephens also scored tries for Rasen, with Tom Aldridge and Ben Youngs each adding one conversion.

In Midlands Three East (South) Stamford began their season in style with a 34-9 victory at Daventry.

Stamford’s tries were scored by Dan Griffin, Iain Downer, Gareth Ramsden, James O’Shea and Lewis Nettleton, with Harry Bentley kicking three conversions and a penalty.

Bourne suffered a narrow 31-26 home defeat against Stockwood Park. JJ Roberts and Sam Evison scored tries for Bourne, with the latter adding four penalties and two conversions. Spalding lost 29-5 away at Dunstablians.

In Midlands Three East (North) Grimsby produced a fine comeback from 21-3 down to win 32-31 away at Mellish. Brad Treacher crossed for two tries and kicked two conversions and a penalty. Grimsby’s other points came via tries from Chris Moore, Tom Bright and Lewis Newsum.

Adam Draper, Ken Lines and Will Wood crossed for tries as Kesteven were narrowly defeated 26-25 away against Mansfield. Ben Whinney kicked two conversions and two penalties.

In Midlands Four East (North), Gainsborough continued their unbeaten start to the season after Ben Watson’s two tries helped them to a 35-31 victory at Ollerton.

Jordan Beresford, Brad Beresford, and Ben Bethall also scored tries for the visitors, with Robbie Goodyear kicking two penalties and two conversions.

North Hykeham are unbeaten in their first two league matches after a thumping 50-17 win at Worksop. Paul Bud, Mark Munton and Rob Booth each scored two tries for North Hykeham.

Adam Bird and Dave Harrison each scored one try and Chris Kirkham added five conversions.

Harry Woods crossed for a hat-trick of tries as Boston maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 65-3 win away against Amber Valley. Charles Hughes grabbed two tries, with Luke Fowler, Lewis Eldin, Alex Hough, Tom Hobbs and Danny Wilson each scoring one. Matt Bray kicked six conversions and a penalty.

Tries from Adam Loveday, Dave Titmus and Curtis Key helped Sleaford to a 23-18 home victory against Cleethorpes. Wayne Harley added two penalties and one conversion. Cleethorpes scrum-half Harry Lightfoot, who was making his return from injury, scored one try, two penalties and a conversion. Isaac Machon also crossed for a try for Cleethorpes.

Skegness suffered a 47-0 home defeat against East Retford.

In the Women’s NC 2 North (East), Jess Lester, Karolina Kacirkova and Sydney Elston crossed for tries as Boston Ladies claimed a 15-14 win over Sleaford. Sleaford’s points came via a penalty try, a try for Molly Ambler and Amy Woodford’s conversion.

Cassie Milestone crossed for a hat-trick of tries as Scunthorpe Ladies won 31-24 away at Kesteven. Becky Clark and Sophie Bullass each scored a try and Mel Wright-Mahoney kicked three conversions.

Beth Toone, Emma Austen, Katie Lay and Megan Alderton scored Kesteven’s tries with Zoe Osborn kicking two conversions.