UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM 81
LINCOLN 1ST XV 7
COUNTIES 1 MIDLANDS EAST (NORTH)

The future is bright for Lincoln’s 1st XV as four young Colts made their first team debuts at the weekend, but it proved to be a tough day at the office in a 81-7 defeat at promotion-chasing University of Nottingham.

Zane Redfern stepped up to the first team as flanker and Toby Barrett and Finn Clements both started on the wing, while Max Adams impressed when he came off the bench.

The score was just 14-7 after Lincoln went over for their only try of the match. Barrett showed great line speed and picked off a Notts attack to run in unopposed for a try and Richie Dixon successfully slotted over the conversion.

Lincoln continued to battle hard, but the University of Nottingham added further tries in the first half to take a 43-7 lead in at the break.

Lincoln played some good rugby in the second half, up to 19 phases in their best spell of the game, but ultimately they gave away possession too easily which allowed their opponents to pounce with further scores wrapping up a convincing win for the hosts.

It wasn’t the result Lincoln would have wanted, but seeing so many Colts making the step up into senior rugby and slotting into first team rugby almost seamlessly in recent months is a big positive for the club.

After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV Head Coach Matt Mcclurg said: “It was a tough day and a tough week. Injuries and people away certainly didn’t help our cause, but we prepared as well as we could.

“With four first team debuts I’m extremely proud of the boys that turned out for the 1s.

“We look forward to the Easter break whilst preparing for a strong end to the season.”

Mcclurg added that the debutants - Redfern, Barrett, Clements and Adams - were Lincoln’s standout performers.