Grimsby 63 Ashfield 0
A perfect blend of experience and youth enabled Grimsby RUFC's 1 st team to take this significant step forward in their battle to avoid relegation this season. From the moment they ran out onto the pitch, accompanied by a number of young players from the Club's junior section as mascots for the day, it was apparent that the Blues were in a confident and positive mood. In ideal conditions and in front of a sizeable crowd, Grimsby dominated from the off. Within minutes fly half Lee Spall, who had an outstanding game on his return to the 1 st team, got the first points on the scoreboard with a penalty kick after a high tackle to sponsor Wincanton's man of the match' and team captain Ben Pharaoh resulted in the Ashfield number 7 being sin-binned for 10 minutes. From the restart Grimsby took possession and, after some excellent work from the forwards, the ball reached outside centre Pharaoh in a little space but still with much to do. Pharaoh then used his renowned side step to maximum effect and crossed the line for the first try of the game. Spall converted successfully.
The Grimsby forwards continued to win good ball and to make it available quickly, and with Spall regularly making the long pass to Pharaoh the young Grimsby backs were able to use their pace in space. In this manner the ball soon reached wing Luke Chaplin out wide and, drawing his man, he timed his return pass to Pharaoh superbly. Pharaoh took off at speed and scored his second try under the posts, which Spall converted. It was not long before Spall went over for a try himself following a super break from Grimsby No 8 Mike Newman, and then proceeded to convert his own try. Spall added another penalty to his tally and put the home team ahead by 27 points to nil, where the score remained at half time.
The second half was really all Grimsby with forwards and backs combining so skilfully that the visiting team appeared at times totally bewildered. Grimsby suffered a set-back after about 5 minutes when their dominant tight head prop Neil Corry had to leave the field due to a knee injury, although veteran Paul Britton was a more than adequate replacement. Minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty and Spall kicked for touch. Grimsby won the ensuing lineout and the ball was shipped out to Pharaoh, who again worked a bit of his magic, avoiding numerous attempted tackles before off-loading to Newman who ran in from the opposition 22-metre line to score the first try of the half. Spall was again successful with the conversion. Shortly after the restart Grimsby ran the ball out from their 22, and from an ensuing ruck the ball reached Spall who passed long to Pharaoh. Pharaoh then shipped on to wing Jordan Hill. Full back Ed Studd came into the line and received the ball from Hill before returning it to him and Hill then sped off, outstripping the defence to score a try on his First Team debut. Spall converted.
Following an unsuccessful Grimsby attack the visitors were awarded a scrum in their own half, but Grimsby Hooker Greg Robson took it against the head and Newman picked up at the base of the scrum then ran in to score his second try of the game. This time the conversion kick went wide. Grimsby then had a try from Studd disallowed after the touch judge signalled for a foot in touch. Following the lineout the ball was knocked forward and a scrum was awarded to Ashfield which they won, but, under pressure from the Grimsby pack, the ball squirted out and replacement flanker Tim Mellors picked up and fed Spall, who ran over for his second try. Following a red card to the Ashfield full back for an act of foul play, Grimsby won two key lineouts in succession as Mellors dominated his opposing jumper. From the second, the ball travelled down the Grimsby back line to Studd on the wing and he outstripped the defence to score a try. The conversion kick was a difficult one but Spall again succeeded and reached an individual points tally of 28. Grimsby's final try came from an excellently timed pass from replacement wing James Bowen to Studd on the wing and whose pace was just too much for the Ashfield defence which he outran to score again. The conversion kick went wide and soon afterwards the referee blew for full time, signalling a most emphatic win for the home team. Grimsby play Lincoln away in the League next Saturday.