Horncastle 75 Gainsborough 0
Saturday March 2nd, the weather was bright if a little windy; this allowed me to complete some of my weekend tasks in the morning in preparation for guests Saturday night prior to the 60 minute drive from Scotter (where I live) to Horncastle.
The drive to Horncastle was uneventful although I do take issue with those who say the Lincolnshire countryside is boring and flat, at any time of year you can travel these country roads and see superb pictures of the countryside. The beginning of March is a time of naked trees and hedge rows, having taken the Glentham, Middle Rasen, Wragby route there wasn’t a lot of traffic, and I could appreciate the weather and view without mechanical distraction other than my own.
Horncastle Rugby Club have had some difficulties of late and like Gainsborough have withdrawn from league competition, it is their intention to work with others to develop a merit league in future seasons in order to assist teams of similar ability.
The All Blacks prepared well for the game prior to kick off and looked like a side that could reverse the recent results between these two side, Horncastle knocked Gainsborough out of the Lincolnshire and NLD cup competitions. I am sorry to report that unfortunately that was not to be Horncastle fielded a very strong side, as good a side as I have seen there in the length of time that club has been running, they bossed the scrums and the lineout, the All Blacks could not get their hands on the ball and where continually on the back foot, the pressure resulted in missed tackles and by half time Gainsborough had conceded 34 points, had one player leave the pitch injured and one on the referees instructions., the injured player was replaced but the laws do not allow a replacement for someone sent off and the travellers played the remaining 43 minutes with 14 players.
The second half saw the lads play with a lot of character, a term often used nowadays, they never gave up, they conceded 41 points to make the final score 75 – 0.
It was not possible for me to stay for a drink at the end of the game; it was still light as I drove back to Scotter trying to prepare a positive report in my head.
Next week the fixture is away at Scunthorpe, this is not anticipated to be such strong opposition; we will learn from this defeat and be a better team and club because of it.
One other afterthought – the referee wasn’t very good I think he was still learning.
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