LINCOLN 1ST XV 52
BOURNE 1ST XV 12
COUNTIES 1 MIDLANDS EAST (NORTH)
BY JOSEPH VERNEY
PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN PENNEY

Will Walker capped an impressive debut with a brace of tries as Lincoln’s 1st XV began the new league season with an emphatic 52-12 win over Lincolnshire rivals Bourne.

Charlie Bargh, Josh Corcoran, Jack Randell, Finn Clements and Leon Hobson-Sheriff also scored tries for Matt Mcclurg’s men, while Max Hayes made his debut at flanker.

Lincoln’s remaining points came via the boot of the returning Louie Cooke, who successfully slotted over all seven conversions and a penalty.

The hosts started well and on the front foot, putting early pressure on Bourne and, after winning a penalty inside the 22, Cooke kicked over the three points to open the scoring.

After a couple of phases by Lincoln, Bourne then turned the ball over and broke from a ruck before a last ditch tackle from Walker looked to have saved the hosts. Unfortunately for Lincoln, it was deemed to be a high tackle and a penalty try was given, with Walker receiving a yellow card.

Lincoln didn’t let that deter them and, after Cooke kicked a penalty to the corner, a driving maul saw Bargh crash over for a try. Cooke added the extras.

Walker made a big impact when he returned to the field with two crucial tries. The first came off the back of a scrum, with a show and go from Cooke before an inside ball set up Walker to crash under the posts. Cooke slotted over the conversion.

Grant Cowe then picked the ball from the back of a scrum before going down the blindside and offloading to Walker, who danced through the Bourne defence to run in for a try, which Cooke converted.

Both teams were then reduced to 14 men following red cards, but it didn’t take Lincoln long to regain control of the game and put relentless pressure on the opposition, which forced a knock on inside Bourne’s 22.

A lovely strike play from the scrum saw Archie Tagg run a hard line dummy run before Cooke passed out the back for Hobson-Sheriff to go over for a try. Cooke added the extras.

Lincoln then lost Cowe to the sin bin, but still held a commanding 31-7 lead going in at the break.

The second half started with a number of phases back and forth and Bourne putting pressure on around the ruck area. However, Lincoln regained control and, after winning a lineout, Corcoran crashed over for a try off the back of a maul, which Cooke converted.

Another great lineout move set up Lincoln’s next try with Ben Taylor once again excellent winning the ball before a crash up from Cowe. Two brilliant balls out the back from Josh White and Cook then set up Randell, who out stepped the opposition winger to run 25 metres for a try. Cooke added the extras.

Lincoln added their seventh and final try of the match from another strong lineout, before good recycling led to Randell setting up Clements, who dummied the winger and ran in unopposed for a try, which Cooke converted.

Bourne reduced the deficit late on when a late penalty led to a maul and Harry Thornburn crashing over for try.

Lincoln’s 1st XV will return to league action when they travel to face Mellish on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

POST MATCH COMMENT

After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV Head Coach Matt Mcclurg said: “It’s good to get the season back underway and it’s pleasing to see a lot of the stuff we worked on in pre-season put on in game day against a good Bourne side.

“This is just the first stepping stone of where we need to be over the season and we will look to continue our winning start against Mellish at the weekend.”