Jack Randell and Josh Pearson scored a try apiece for Lincoln and Richie Dixon slotted over one conversion in the match which saw Matt Keeton make his 250th senior appearance for the club and what a great servant he continues to be. The match also saw young Colt Finn Daniels make his senior debut for the club.

Captain Spen Holvey, Harry Lightfoot, Ollie Cross, Chris Everton and Aidan Appleyard each scored one try for Rasen, with Tommy Alldridge adding four conversions.

It didn’t feel like it had the same derby intensity of years gone by, but Rasen did start strongly and opened the scoring after just three minutes. Randell put in a tackle to try and stop Lightfoot, who managed to stay on his feet and evade another defender to run in for a try.

Lincoln tried to respond with Archie Tagg making good yards but, unfortunately for the hosts, they soon fell further behind. A kick through bounced fortunately right into the hands of Holvey who raced clear to score a try, which Alldridge converted.

The hosts reduced the deficit after 24 minutes when a powerful surge forward by Laurence Few set up Olly Stringer. Stringer made good metres before setting up Randell to run in for an unconverted try.

Rasen soon extended their lead as Tom Stephens passed the ball over for Cross to run in for a try, which Alldridge converted.

Lincoln started to pile more pressure on their local rivals with Dixon making good distance from some penalty kicks, and the hosts were rewarded with a try in the closing stages of the first half.

Captain Tom Tucker picked up the ball from the back of a scrum and surged forward before being stopped just short, and Pearson reacted quickest to crash over for a try. Dixon added the extras to reduce the deficit to 21-12 going in at the break.

Rasen lost prop Sam Lempard to the sin bin within three minutes of the restart and Lincoln tried to take advantage of the extra man as Jake Keeton made good yards. Unfortunately, Lincoln couldn’t make the pressure count and it was Rasen who scored the next try of the game to secure a bonus point.

After a kick by Connor Brewster bounced fortunately into the hands of Marius Berger, the Rasen centre offloaded the ball to Everton, who ran in for a try.

With around 10 minutes remaining, Rasen ended any realistic hopes of a Lincoln comeback as Appleyard crashed over for a try from close range, which Alldridge converted.

Lincoln thought they had a third try when Jake Keeton chased his own kick, kicked it on again, and looked like he may have grounded the ball, but it was ruled out for an alleged knock on.

Although the result didn’t go their way, Lincoln will soon have a chance to make amends as they again host Rasen in the NLD Shield on Friday, February 20.

POST MATCH COMMENTS

After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV Head Coach Matt Mcclurg said: “We knew what the fixture was going to be like and that they are top of the league for a reason. They are a well-drilled outfit who deserve a lot of respect.

“In spells, I am happy with our performance. We came up short in some areas and look forward to facing them again in the cup next week.

“We showed good heart, but lacked quality in some areas to get over the game line. The game was closer than the scoreline suggested. Bring on game two.”

Lincoln captain Tom Tucker said: “In areas of play when we got into our structure we played well, but work rate let us down as we were not working hard enough off the ball.

“In the last 20 of the first and second half we were the better side playing some good rugby, but credit to Rasen, there is a reason why they are top.

“Going into the cup on Friday we will build and hopefully get the win.”

On Matt Keeton’s superb achievement of making 250 senior appearances for Lincoln, President Matt Tucker added: “Special mention to Matt Keeton, one of our club stalwarts. It shows how important our home grown talent is.

“He is a really good example to everyone else and has proudly captained the club. He is an absolute legend of a clubman.”

Market Rasen’s 1st XV Head Coach Paul Cook said: “We got off to a great start. The one thing we have struggled with this season is starting well, but we did much better this time.

“Lincoln got back into it, partly because of our ill discipline. Derby games can be scrappy, but we managed the game well and it was a key win for us, and hopefully it can be a good springboard to take into the rest of the season.”

Rasen’s Director of Rugby Ed Timmins said: “Man for man I think both teams were fairly evenly matched, but it came down to Rasen’s organisation and fitness that won the game.

“It was a hard-fought local derby. Our penalty count killed us a bit, and it could have gone either way after half-time, but we ground out the win.”