Riding Vikings 21 Grimsby Boars 34
Grimsby Boars were like pigs in muck for the first half of their debut under a new name. They piled on the points with smiles on their faces as the newly-titled second string of Grimsby Rugby Football Club - created as the club no longer have the players for three sides. But they had to survive a 21-point onslaught to win away to Riding Vikings.
With the first set move, fly-half Darren Daly crabbed across the pitch and kicked through to the corner. In the battle for the ball, winger Mike Burton scooped up for the opening score. Five minutes later flanker Darren Spreadbury broke the line and kicked through, turning the defence. Dan Evans, playing his first game at inside centre, sprinted on and dived on the ball to score and extend the Blues' lead. Some good off-loads from forwards and backs put pacy full-back Allan Oliver over in the right corner for the third try. And after a barnstorming break from number eight Marc Burke, the ball was recycled quickly and second row Mark Summersall broke two tackles to score. Spreadbury's kick made it 24-0.
But with sloppy defending Grimsby let the Vikings back into the match and with 15 minutes to go their lead had been cut to 24-21. Prop Nathan Price-Saleh returned to action with style after a detached retina. In a 15-minute cameo on the wing he barged his way over for a try and a penalty and conversion from Spreadbury put the Boars out of reach.