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Gainsborough All Blacks22 Sleaford 3rds 41
Gainsborough started their season on a miserable wet day with a home fixture in the Lincolnshire Merit League. After 12 weeks of preparation there was a good turn out of players all enthusiastic and looking to be selected for this initial game. As it was all those who had trained through the summer months were rewarded with the starting positions, but all players were used by the end of the game.
12 months ago Gainsborough would not have been considered good enough to give Sleaford a reasonable game it was therefore interesting to see how far this team has developed. The All Blacks were in the game from start to finish and with 15 minutes to go were level 22 points each, it was clearly the visitors experience and their discipline that won them the game, with a little more discipline both verbal and with hands at the breakdown Gainsborough could have caused an upset against their more illustrious opponents. A conversation I had with coach Harry Sampson at the end of the game suggested that all fixtures in this merit league would be about this standard of opposition, Andy Dean, Vernon and Harry are going to have to prepare the players to deal with that week in and week out, but on this performance it is clear that the team will do a lot better than in previous years.
The first half was dominated by the home side, Sleaford took a while to settle, the All Blacks dominated the set piece, a very good start by new prop Dan Hickson who showed good skill with ball in hand as well as scrummaging eventually led to Shaun Parker kicking the ball through the Sleaford defence and Mark Ellis followed the ball and scored the first try which was converted by Shaun Parker. Gainsborough added to the lead with a fine individual try from Dan Chadwick to give the All Blacks a 12 point advantage. Sleaford started to come back into the game Gainsborough had to defend good defensive work from another newcomer, centre Matt Hully kept the home side in the game until the eventual pressure from the visitors saw them score two unconverted tries before half time. Gainsborough went into the break with a 5 point advantage thanks to a penalty kick by Shaun Parker. Gainsborough 15 Sleaford 10.
The second half saw the first change in personnel for the home side changes, Mark Lingard came on for Dan Hickson, whilst it was always going to be difficult for Gainsborough to continue to dominate against their more experience opponents they stuck at the task and defended well , Sleaford carried on the way they had finished the first half, they scored a converted try to take the lead for the first time in the game, at this point Rob Morley and Casey O ‘Conner entered the fray, Casey making his competitive debut for Gainsborough coming on for Matt Hully who had made an impressive debut. Dan Chadwick restored Gainsborough lead with another fine individual try, his pace took him away from the visitors defence to touch down under the posts, Shaun Parker duly converted. Mathew Spencer entered the field to replace Vernon Goude and Nathan Mitchell came on to play his fiorst game back following his neck injury.
Sleaford were now going forward at every opportunity and spent long periods of time in the All Blacks half, they crossed the line but could not touch the ball down, they kept the pressure up, had four five meter scrums and eventually scored a try to make the scores even 22 – 22. It was ironic that when Sleaford did take the lead it followed indiscipline in the home side, being penalised for comments made to the referee, Sleaford broke from the penalty and scored an unconverted try. There was a lot of spirit in the home side but they had given everything and Sleaford went on to score two converted tries in the last seven minutes of the game. Gainsborough know what has to be done to win matches and I am sure some of the issues will be addressed at training on Tuesday evening.
Next Saturday the All Blacks play Scunthorpe 6ths at Scunthorpe the squad for the game is named below, anyone requiring more details contact Vernon on 01724 334433.
All players are asked to meet at the Leisure centre at 1.15
V Goude
Mark Ellis
Shane Ellis
Paul Hooten
Dan Hickson the prop
Matt Hully
Mark Taylor
Mark Waterland
Rob Morley
Terry Wright
Andre Russell
Gareth Wood
Shaun Parker
Dallon Ryan
Daniel Dodsley
Sam Hirst
Tom Bond
Daniel Chadwick
Elliot Humphries
Casey O’ Conner
Nathan Mitchell
Mathew Spencer
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