Match report Lincoln Vs Newark Colts, preseason friendly

The start of a new Colts season, with Lincoln welcoming the 2023/24 Newark Colts team for their first game of the season on an exceptionally warm day at Lodge Lane, playing on the 1st team pitch in front of a sizable crowd of Lincoln and Newark supporters.

The sides seemed well matched and clearly enthusiastic to get back to competitive rugby after the summer break and many preseason fitness training sessions. It was Newark who started strongest and continually had Lincoln under pressure from the first Kick off, with only marginal Newark errors that kept the try line safe, however this did not last long as some great forward work eventually proved decisive and the retained ball was spread wide to the waiting Harry W, who sped through for the first try of the season and he topped it off with a conversion from a difficult angle. 0 -7 within 4 mins.

From the restart, a catch from Noah and great individual skill to catch under pressure the kick off and evade the on-coming defenders provided the second try of the game, conversion Harry W 0 -14

The second try galvanised the Lincoln side who now realised they had a tough game ahead, desperately trying to get on the front foot, the visitors had other ideas and pinned the home side down, with phased play, only repelled by determined defence by Lincoln. A clearance kick from Lincoln was collected by Newark and subsequently lost in the breakdown, counter rucking proved fruitful for the visitors and was swiftly recycled by new scrum half Lewis eventually finding Harry W lurking on the wing who ran in for his brace, and third conversion, 0 – 21 after 18 mins.

The game settled for a breather with even scrums and lineouts, with the Lincoln lineout proving the stronger overall, it took a trademark Jackal from Henry A to make the difference, who immediately spread to the wings and the waiting Harry W who celebrated his hattrick on his Colts debut, converting for good measure 0 – 28

The visitors were in no mood for mercy and continually pounded the Lincoln try line, with the Lincoln lineout proving decisive on numerous occasions, a Lincoln clearance from a defended lineout found Henry A on the halfway, who sprinted back evading the defenders, offloading to Reuban S for the try, conversion Harry W, 0 – 35 on the half time whistle.

Lincoln started second half strong and determined to reduce the deficit and desperately trying to get into the game, but faced with a stalwart Newark defence that they were unable to breach.

Fitness and preseason effort now started to prove critical in the later stages of the game with the hot weather proving a challenge. Strong runs and support from forwards Mateusz, Hayden, Archie and Henry A, opening up a tiring Lincoln line, resulting in tries from Joe D, Luke H, and Ethan H, with Harry W maintaining a 100% conversion rate to make the final score 0 -56

Overall a solid start to the season, highlighting this newly formed Colts squads strengths and work -On’s in training.
Thanks as always to our hosts and look forward to welcoming them to Kelham Road for the return fixture.

Written Will Syme-Nicholson

Approved Alan Staines