Skegness Rugby Club

Skegness 1st XV 47 – 10 Presidents Select XV

On a somewhat fresh Sunday morning, the Skegness Rugby Club held their annual Presidents game and as ever it didn’t fail to disappoint.

Captain Halliday and his men came into the game off the back of victory over local rivals Horncastle only 24 hours earlier, however the effects of the game weren’t evident, as Skegness and the captain himself opened the scoring by showing his opposite number Haigh, a dummy going right under the posts after only 8 minutes. The conversion was successful to make the score 7-0.

Skegness continued to put pressure on the President backs and through a combination of missed tackles and good handling Jenkins ended his recent try scoring drought as he broke the line to score under the posts, Halliday was on the mark from the conversion to make the score 14-0.

The Presidents hit back almost automatically as the immense pressure they were piling on in the scrums began to tell as they won penalty after penalty, eventually the forwards managed to get the ball over the line through last year’s first team captain Phil the power Taylor. This time the conversion wasn’t successful and the score was 14-5.

Divilly ended the first half with a score under the posts after a quick tap penalty could not be stopped by aggressive tackling. Halliday converted to make the score 21-5.

With changes being made to both teams, the second half began in the same fashion as the first did with Skegness coming out and scoring the first try of the half. Divilly showing signs that there is still plenty of life in the old dog yet, as he started and then finished off another well worked try, increasing the score to 28-5.

The trend continued as good work from the backs put Cameron into the corner for another try Unfortunately Halliday’s 100% kicking record came to an end as his conversion fall just short of the posts. This made the score 33-5.

Minutes later Skegness scored what was arguably the best try of the game, they began to turn the screw in the scrums and from a quick break through Mawer, Jenkins received the ball, sprinted 65 metres weaving in and out of tackles, to side step Hummel and score unchallenged. Halliday found his kicking boots again to make the score 40-10.

Determined to not go down fighting, powerful driving from the President forwards moved them up the field and from a rolling maul student Sheldon managed to pounce and touch the ball down to close the gap to 33-10, unfortunately for the Presidents this would be the last points they would score in this game.

Going into the final 10 minutes stamina began to take its toll on the President’s as Skegness finished off, as they started, with a try from their captain. His strong running and support from the fly half position could not be defended against. Halliday successfully kicked his conversion to take his personal tally for the game to 22 points.

The game ended with the final score being 47-10 to the Skegness 1st XV. Skegness will take many positives from the result going into the New Year, with the first game on January 7th away against Cleethorpes sure to be one to remember.

Upon completion of the game, the trophy was presented by President of the club Pete Kent to captain of the 1st team Dan Halliday amid cheers from the team. After the presentation had taken place there was a raffle draw, followed a rare appearance from Santa Claus, who took time out of his busy schedule to bring presents and festive joy to all at the club.


Skegness 1st XV

Lancaster, T. Hill, Brian, A. Hill, Holiday (T. Santini), De La Fontaine, S. Johnson (Machin), Jackson (R. Taylor), Divilly (Farnsworth), Halliday, M. Santini (Mawer), Cook, Jenkins, J. De La Fontaine, Cameron (Kime), Pollock.


President Select XV

Chad, Welsh (Brown), Stevenson (I. Johnson), Spiers, Kelly, P. Taylor, Stennett, Reavy (Epton), Haigh, Whitwam (Bateman), R. Cameron, Frost, Farnsworth (Wheeler), Hummel (Sheldon) (D. De La Fontaine) + Others!