LINCOLN COLTS 19
NEWARK COLTS 26
NLD COLTS POOL GROUP C

BY JOSEPH VERNEY

PHOTO CREDIT: GORDY ELIAS AND KIRSTY DUNN

Lincoln Colts showed great teamwork and determination as they pushed Newark close in a narrow 26-19 home defeat at Longdales Park.

Lincoln started the game strongly and pushed Newark back towards their own try line, but unfortunately the hosts then gave away a penalty.

Newark used the boot to earn a lineout before numerous phases, which Lincoln initially did brilliantly to keep out. Newark eventually exploited gaps around the breakdown before their scrum-half broke through to score to the right-hand side of the posts.

Lincoln battled back into the game after a really dominant scrum on Newark’s 10-metre line. Great hands from Isaac T and Kyran M then put Finn M through a hole to run in for a try. Isaac T added the extras to the level the score.

Newark regained the lead soon after the restart after a great chase saw them break Lincoln’s line and exploit a gap in the defence to score.

Lincoln reduced the deficit to just two points when a move at the breakdown saw the referee accidentally catch the ball. Lincoln were then given a scrum inside the 22, which the hosts dominated before a good backs move found a gap, and Isaac T on the wrap around set up captain Kieron F coming in from full-back. Kieron F then dodged and weaved his way through the defence to score a great try.

Newark went over for an unconverted try late in the first half as Lincoln narrowly trailed 19-12 at the break.

Newark extended their advantage when Lincoln tried to work their way out of trouble and threw a loose pass, which was intercepted by the visitors. Kieron F initially produced a sterling effort to stop Newark five metres out, but the visitors regathered to strike down the middle to score.

Back came Lincoln, who piled pressure on their opponents and were held up over the line, forcing a goalline drop-out. Lincoln regathered the ball and, after a couple of phases, Noah B broke trough and muscled his way over the line for a try following great support by his fellow forwards.

Isaac T once again slotted over the conversion to bring Lincoln back to within just one score of the Nottinghamshire outfit, but there wasn’t enough time to complete the turnaround.

POST MATCH COMMENT

After the match Lincoln Colts Head Coach Chris Briggs said: “It was an improved performance, and the players and coaches believe this is one that could have been won.

“As we see it as unlucky, no doubt Newark see it as they made their own luck.


“We need to build on the positives; our set piece was much improved as was our depth in attack.

“The support of the ball carrier is becoming a signature style as is keeping the ball alive, but in patches our work rate wasn’t where we want to be and we must improve that if we want these unlucky losses to turn into hard-fought wins.”