LINCOLN 1ST XV 45
MARKET RASEN & LOUTH 1ST XV 7
NLD SHIELD QUARTER FINAL
BY JOSEPH VERNEY

Jack Randell and Archie Tagg grabbed a brace of tries apiece as Lincoln’s 1st XV avenged their recent defeat by claiming local bragging rights with a 45-7 home win against Market Rasen to secure their place in the semi-final of the NLD Shield.

Grant Cowe, Harris Paterson and Leon Hobson-Sheriff also scored tries for Lincoln, while Richie Dixon successfully slotted over five conversions. The match also saw young Colt Finn Daniels produce a man-of-the-match performance on his first senior start for the club.

Rasen’s only try of the match was scored by Aidan Appleyard and their Head Coach Paul Cook added the conversion.

Before kick-off both sides came together and observed a minute’s silence in memory of Southwell Rugby Club player Jacob Hardwick who sadly passed away recently. It was a touching moment that showed the strength and unity of the rugby family.

On the pitch, Lincoln started strongly and put early pressure on Rasen with Daniels' powerful run being halted just a few metres short of the try line.

Rasen fly-half George Lee-Erasmus was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock down after 14 minutes.

Lincoln continued to put pressure on their local rivals and opened the scoring after 17 minutes when Cowe powered through a tackle to go over for a try under the posts, which Dixon converted.

Lincoln were in a much more determined mood than Saturday’s league defeat and a great break by Olly Stringer set up Randell, who ran down the wing before handing off a Rasen player, only to be tackled into touch.

The hosts weren’t to be denied soon after though as Dixon offloaded to Tagg, who superbly ran onto the ball and raced clear for a try after 23 minutes. Dixon added the extras.

Lincoln were soon in again after Paterson excellently charged down a Rasen clearance before giving the ball to Daniels. Daniels then offloaded it to Few, who was stopped just short of the try line.

Lincoln then shipped the ball wide to Tagg who made good yards before offloading it to Randell, who briefly paused before diving over for a try in the corner.

The hosts continued to play with confidence and Paterson brilliantly intercepted the ball to race clear for a try from inside his own half, which Dixon converted.


Rasen were reduced to 14 men when Lee-Erasmus was sent off for a second yellow card for another deliberate knock down.

Lincoln made the most of having an extra man by adding another try before the end of the first half. Some slick and quick offloads set up Tagg to race clear from inside his own half, before he cut inside to go over for a try.

Dixon successfully slotted over the conversion to give Lincoln a commanding 33-0 lead going in at the break.

The second half was a tighter affair and Rasen reduced the deficit after some continued pressure in Lincoln’s 22 led to Appleyard piling over for a try. Cook added the extras.

Lincoln soon responded with Randell making a great interception to race clear before doing a swan dive as he went over for his second try of the evening, which Dixon converted.

After another great run through the defence by Tagg, it was then Rasen’s turn to put the pressure on Lincoln, and they very nearly scored.

An excellent last-ditch tackle by Sam Jones stopped Rasen just short of the try line. An offload soon after looked to have put the visitors in for a certain score, but determined full-back Dexter Ryde kept Rasen out with a superb tackle in the corner.

Lincoln then increased their lead when Randell chased a kick before being stopped just short of the try line. Josh Pearson then darted through before being tackled and Hobson-Sheriff showed a dummy and ran in for a try.

Lincoln came very close to another try in the closing stages after a blistering run by Few. He powered through a few tackles before being stopped just short of the try line, but nothing could prevent the hosts from running out as deserved winners.

POST MATCH COMMENTS

After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV Head Coach Matt Mcclurg said: “I am really happy. We set out early on Tuesday and looked at what they did last Saturday and I think we took that into the game.

“We pressed really hard, closed down the space, and really improved our set piece.

“The first 40 minutes absolutely went a dream. Well done to the lads.

“In the second half Rasen came out and played multiple phases and I was really happy with our defence. I think they played up to 15 phases at one point and we didn’t give any penalties away and they didn’t make any yards, so really good structure.

“We nicked a couple of points in the second half and killed the game off.

“The red card in the first half was always going to be a turning point, but I think that was from our pressure, Rasen couldn’t deal with that.

“Happy that the boys got a win. We’ve played them four times and been on the losing end three times. To finish off with a derby win, we’re all happy here at Lincoln tonight.”

On the man-of-the-match performance of young Finn Daniels, he added: “Finn Daniels first start and first man-of-the-match, fantastic, Ben Taylor coming back in was fantastic, and Archie Tagg was unreal in the backline, that’s the future of Lincoln Rugby Club. All of a sudden we’ve got lads under 20 starting to now perform in the first team, the future looks really bright.”

Lincoln’s 1st XV captain Tom Tucker said: “I’m really happy with the performance by the lads - some great areas of rugby played.

“We were dominant in attack and defence and that proved too much for Rasen.

“Some standout performances from Harris Paterson and Archie Tagg who played excellently, but well deserved to man-of-the-match Finn Daniels who was everywhere.”

Market Rasen’s Head Coach Paul Cook said: “The conditions made it into a bit of a scrappy game, but fair play to Lincoln they played well and came out the blocks and maybe first half they wanted it a little bit more than us.

“We struggled to get any continuity and play together and Lincoln fed off that and they were clinical and made the most of their chances.

“I think we were a bit unlucky with the red card, it was really harsh. Obviously I wouldn’t say it changed the shape of the match, but it certainly had an affect on the match.

“Our boys in the second half, to be fair to them, they came out, they stuck together, they never gave up. It was a better showing in the second half and at the end of the day the best team won and we wish them all the best in the next round.”