Grimsby RUFC 2nd XV 15 Hornsea RUFC 2nd XV 29

Grimsby featured a mixture of young Colts and older experienced players, but Hornsea, probably had an advantage with most of their team being under 24. Hornsea showed their intentions early opening the score on four minutes winning a turnover ball in their own half, the ball was passed down the back line to the winger who evaded a few missed tackles and scored in the corner. Grimsby’s forwards with age and experience on their side began to dominate and when Hornsea collapsed a scrum, fly half Lewis Dyson slotted the awarded penalty to give the Blues their first points. Another breakaway try put Hornsea further in front minutes later. Following some good pressure from the Grimsby forwards with a series of pick up and go drives from prop Hamish Auld, hooker Conor Simcock and second row Jeff Lewsam, Grimsby had Hornsea pegged in their own 22. From this prop Scott Bouch nearly scored when he picked up a loose ball and drove over, but the ball was judged to be knocked on. At this point Hornsea had to go to uncontested scrums following an injury to one of their props, this took the advantage away from Grimsby whose pack were far too strong for Hornsea. Grimsby continued to press and following a good passing move by Dyson the ball was spilled close to the Hornsea try line. The ball fell fortuitously to the Hornsea winger who sprinted the full length of the pitch to score evading a last minute tap tackle by winger James Gordon. Hornsea added the conversion. Again Grimsby began to press and following a series of mauls Grimsby scored their first try when second row Nathan Watson peeled off a maul and dived through a gap to score in the corner to leave the half time score 17-8 to Hornsea. The second half started like the first when Hornsea scored early on, but Grimsby continued to occupy much of the Hornsea half and following more Grimsby pressure in the Hornsea 22 an opportunist try by scrum half Evan Picking got the Blues right back in the game. A loose ball was kicked forward by Picking who sprinted after the ball and beat the full back to the ball has he dived on it to score. Dyson added the conversion. At this point Grimsby looked like they were going to get something from the game until centre Phil Dann was yellow carded. Hornsea took advantage of the extra man and soon added another try with Grimsby stretched in the backs with an inevitable overlap, which was duly converted to give them a 29-15 victory.