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Gainsborough All Blacks 12 Presidents 26
Gainsborough Rugby Club played their last game of the season against the Presidents team on Sunday 29th April at the Castle Hills School Sports Ground and put up a very good display against the Presidents team when they competed for the Mick Foot Trophy..
The Presidents turned out a team of ex players and guests of real quality to make the task of winning their final game very difficult for the rejuvenated All Blacks and it speaks volumes for the team that they were able to hold their own against the likes of ex players Stephen Childs, Rick Andrews, Austin Huntly, Dan Skelton, Albert Parker and Thomas and Jerry Thorold. Added to this list of names was Jason Turner who this year was awarded a County Cap after having an outstanding season with Market Rasen. To give the match a special edge their were 4 members of Mick Foots family in the first half 15 , 3 sons and a brother.
The better organised All Blacks scored the first try of the game and really gave the Presidents something to think about but as so often happens in these games the Presidents side hit back with a converted try of their own to lead 7 – 5.
At this stage the Gainsborough forwards were dominating the game and created another converted try only to see the scores again go level when the Presidents managed to score an unconverted try of their own.
The second half was a more one sided affair in terms of points and the Guests turned on a good display of running rugby to score two converted try’s to make the final score 26 – 12 to the Presidents
This game was the first ever match to be played for the Mick Foot trophy and Albert Parker duly took the cup as the winning captain. The Dave Miles trophy for the man of the match award went to the outstanding player from the Presidents team Thomas Thorold, Tom made hard yards whenever he had the ball in his hands and tackled like a demon. The game was made all the more special in the second half when Jerry Thorold making his last appearance on a Gainsborough Rugby pitch prior to his move to Cornwall was joined in the Presidents side with both his sons Tom and Luke. This was without doubt one of the best games to have been played on this pitch this season and a credit to both managers, Vernon Goude for the All Blacks and Harry Sampson for the Presidents. Special mention should also be made of referee Tony Smith who gave his time to be part of this special occasion and also the players from Lincoln and North Kesteven Rugby Club who provided some of the quality opposition for a game played in special memory of Mick Foot.
