Grimsby 3 Scunthorpe V 0
This was always going to be a tight game, but no one could have predicted that the score would be so close at the final whistle. The two teams had finished their penultimate games in the Lincs Merit League on equal points, making this game the decider of which team would win the title and carry away the League Winners' trophy.
Scunthorpe appeared to come out the strongest in the first half and pressurised the home side in their 22-metre area for the first few minutes. Grimsby Number Eight Tim Lansley-Hogg, who had an influential game, cleared up from a lineout but was then penalised for holding on to the ball in the tackle. The away team elected to kick for posts but the attempt was unsuccessful. A few minutes later Scunthorpe had another opportunity to get on the scoreboard when the Blues were penalised in easy reach of the posts, but again the attempt failed. Grimsby then began to get into the game as their young 19-year old fly half Darren Spreadbury began to take more control of the game and with some penetrating runs from Grimsby 's left wing James Bowen putting the Greens under pressure. Then Grimsby openside flanker Ron Holt, who was a thorn in the away team's side throughout the game, charged down a clearance kick and good pressure from Grimsby after the ensuing lineout resulted in a knock on from Scunthorpe . Grimsby won the resulting scrum and Scunthorpe went offside, for which the home side were awarded a penalty about 25 metres out, but Spreadbury's kick for posts unfortunately went wide. Grimsby received the ball from the subsequent 22-metre drop out and shipped it out wide to Richard Robinson on the right wing, who was having a stormer of a game. Robinson outran the opposing defence and seemed to have scored in the corner but the Referee did not award the try, signalling instead a Grimsby penalty in midfield for another Scunthorpe offside. Blues' scrum half Keith Jones stepped up to the mark and slotted the ball over for the three points that ultimately won the game for the home side. For the rest of the half there was a closely fought battle for the supremacy that neither team could attain, and the sides turned round at half time with Grimsby leading 3-0.
The second half was a nail-biting affair, with the game moving steadily from end to end but neither team could find a way through the other's solid defence. Grimsby introduced some fresh legs in the form of Scott Chambers in the centre and Matt Hood in the second row in place of John Hamill and Nigel Dogson respectively who had given their all to maintain their team's slim lead. Hood settled himself in by receiving the ball at the back of a lineout but the subsequent maul was unsuccessful and a try was awarded to Scunthorpe. A good break from the Greens' centre looked threatening but more excellent tackling from Grimsby centre Tony Bristow caused him to spill the ball forward and Spreadbury got away a good clearance kick from the ensuing scrum.
In the final minute of the game Grimsby were threatening the away team's try line after some excellent work from Holt produced good ball from a maul and Spreadbury chipped ahead, but the ball went straight into touch. Holt then stole the ball in the lineout and Scunthorpe went offside again. Spreadbury was unlucky with the attempt at posts and Scunthorpe ran the ball out of defence but Robinson put in a good tackle, forcing his opponent into touch, at which the referee blew his whistle to end the game to the delight of the home team and supporters. The win was a tribute from the team to their own efforts this season and those of their Manager Mark Spreadbury, who now retires from the position.