Grimsby 21 Belgrave 10
Grimsby finally ended their losing run to the start of the season with an impressive display against fellow strugglers Belgrave, from Leicestershire. It was a perfect day for rugby, glorious weather and a pitch that merited the high quality of rugby that was to be played on it, finally. Grimsby won the toss and returning captain Pharaoh elected to take all of the conditions on offer.
Straight from the kick-off, Grimsby imposed themselves on the visitors. From a line-out inside the first minute fly-half Daly hoisted a high ball towards the visiting winger. His fumble was pounced upon by Pharaoh who, back at his natural position of centre, broke for the line, but was unable to find his support inside and the foray was defended well by the Leicestershire side. The first quarter continued in the same vein, the Grimsby pack gaining parity with the visitors and clean breaks being made by the impressive center pairing of Pharaoh and Thomas and bullocking carries from Newman, Corry and Norman.
After a sustained period of pressure from the blues, the visitors infringed at a ruck and the impressive boot of Daly duly took the three points. From the restart Grimsby won the ball and Daly again dropped a high kick onto the winger, he fumbled this was collected by Oliver who cleverly off-loaded to Pharaoh who sprinted past the covering defence to score in the corner. Daly narrowly missed the conversion. As the game progressed, the visiting forward pack begun to exert control onto the game. This was countered by Grimsby 's ever improving back line, who, when they got the ball would tear into the visiting defence, and were even more impressive in defence. Thomas deserving particular mention for the ferocity of his tackling performance. The next score was a solo effort from number eight Newman. From a scummage the ball came flying out of the back for Newman to gather. He then handed-off all and sundry before going under the posts to score. Daly converted.
While the first half had been about Grimsby 's attacking prowess, the second was all about their passion in defence. The well drilled Belgave pack constantly put pressure on the blues line through scrums and driving mauls. But no matter how hard they pushed and how far the home pack went backwards they refused to let them cross the line. After a good seventy percent of the second half was spent on or near the Grimsby line, the line was breached twice by the visors through the shear weight of pressure. The fly-half was unable to convert either. The second half for Grimsby was all about taking their chances. Time after time the visiting players struggled to legally stop Grimsby and from resulting penalties, lines were cleared or territory was won. As the game wore on the visiting side had to throw everything they had at the blues. The Springfield road side defended with heroically. Pressure was taken off by breaks from Pharaoh, Thomas, scrum half Lowery and the young Studd, and as the blues fought back into the Belgrave half, the visitors infringed and penalties were awarded that Daly duly converted. This was all backed up by a never-say-die attitude to defence from the home pack, who, although were outclassed by the visitors, refused to yield and allow the line to be crossed on numerous occasions.
Further notable performances came from Newman and Norman along with back row partner Corry, a menace in the loose and the front row of Wilkinson, Robson and Thornton, who in the face of overwhelming odds never gave in. This weekend Grimsby travel to mid-table Oakham to hopefully continue their new found winning ways.