MELLISH 1ST XV 0

LINCOLN 1ST XV 33

COUNTIES 1 MIDLANDS EAST (NORTH)

BY JOSEPH VERNEY

PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN PENNEY

Fly-half Louie Cooke scored a try and kicked four conversions as Lincoln’s 1st XV continued their perfect start to the season with a 33-0 bonus point win away at Mellish.

Charlie Over, Will Walker, Charlie Bargh and Jack Randell also scored tries against Mellish, who Lincoln did the league double over last season and beat in the NLD Shield Final.

Lincoln opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Mellish kicked a penalty to the corner, failed to secure the lineout, and knocked near their own 22. From the scrum, there was a nice tip on to Over, who ran most of the length of the pitch and side-stepped the full-back to score a great try, which Cooke converted.

After dominating possession, Lincoln got a lineout on the 10 metre lineout, which Ben Taylor expertly won before passing the ball to Cooke. Cooke then stepped inside his opposite number to run in for a try under the posts, which he also converted.

Lincoln were controlling most of the game and, after multiple phases, they hit the edge and came back across with a pass from Cooke tipping it onto Grant Cowe. Cowe made good yards before offloading to Zane Redfern who was tackled, but Mellish went off their feet, so the referee awarded a penalty.

Walker took a quick tap and go before the ball went through the hands and out to Randell on the wing. Randell then put a kick through for Walker to dab down for his third try in two matches.

Lincoln finished the first half strongly with another great leap from Taylor in the lineout setting up a good catch and drive move for Bargh to power over for a try.

Cooke successfully slotted over the conversion to give Lincoln a commanding 26-0 lead going in at the break.

Lincoln increased their lead in the second half after a few phases of play and the ball being recycled well through the hands to Randell on the wing. Randell then sidestepped the winger and ran in unopposed from the 10 metre line to score a try, which Cooke converted.

In the latter stages of the match, one of the Mellish players was forced off with a serious head injury and the game was abandoned, but enough had been played for the result to stand. Lincoln would like to wish the Mellish player a speedy recovery.

POST MATCH COMMENT

After the match Lincoln’s 1st XV Head Coach Matt Mcclurg said: “It was a good result away from home.

“We have things to work on, it was a very stop start game, which is Mellish’s tactic, trying to slow us down in the ruck.


“It will be a much better test against Belgrave on Saturday.”