Coalville 1st XV 34 - 13Grimsby 1st XV
Grimsby travelled for this rearranged Midlands Division 3 East (North) fixture to Coalville in Leicestershire following two previous failed attempts to play the match due to snow and waterlogging on all six of their pitches!!! With five changes to the side following last week's victory, Grimsby fell into the same trap that they have fallen into on so many occasions - they travelled in a mood that was overconfident and they lost. One day they will realise that teams within this league are only in this league because they are good and worthy of the position and that the game will need to won by hard work and determination and training. No team will just give up a home fixture win. Grimsby were fortunate from the start with an immediate infringement by the home side from which Daly kicked a penalty. This was about all that Grimsby could say was good about the first 30 minutes. Coalville were definitely the stronger side with plenty of running and support rugby. Their backline seriously outclassing the Grimsby backs. The first home side try came from well worked play from the backs leading to an simple overlap and out to the winger to score under the posts. The try was converted. The second try should never have happened but sort of summed up the day for Grimsby. A high ball from the home side fly half sent the ball deep into the Grimsby 22 and then some indecision from the youthful Davies, allowed the ball to bounce, straight into the hands of the home side's winger to score under the posts. This again was converted successfully. The third try was another text book overlap coming from well worked backs hands to score again behind the Grimsby posts. Again the kick was successful. Grimsby were struggling at 21-3 down with only 25 minutes played. The only area of any significant dominance for Grimsby was the scrummage where the sheer weight advantage pushed the Coalville pack back on numerous occasions but this did not seem to gain them much territory as the forwards were too slow to the breakdown. Perhaps one of only a few highlights during the afternoon came shortly before half time when a pick up from Barker at the base of the scrum was fed out wide to Lowery at scrum half and then on to Cairns who chipped the ball through for Daly to ground the ball for a try. The conversion was missed and half time was a welcome relief to the travelling side 21-8 down. Captain Edwards was seething at the lack of effort from most but the Grimsby team seemed in a different league on the day. Kempthorne came on for Montague and Dymond came on for the injured Slosmanis. The second half started a little better for Grimsby, having realised that if they were going to do anything that afternoon worth writing about they would have to keep the ball tight and away from the Coalville backs. An infringement in one of these tight periods of play allowed Coalville back on the scoreboard with a penalty kick. The next try came from another incident that yet again summed up the afternoon for Grimsby. A well rehearsed lineout move from Barker went horribly wrong and the ball was allowed to bounce into the hands of the Coalville hooker who galloped away to score in the corner. The kick was unsuccessful and Grimsby were 29-8 down. Kempthorne, Edwards and Wilkinson showed their experience with a series of gfood carries and strong driving mauls to take the ball deep into the Coalville 22 where upon Martin forced his way over the line to score Grimsby's second try of the afternoon. The kick was unsuccessful. The final score of the game came following a slightly late tackle by the Scottish representative, Cairns, who was awarded for his troubles with a yellow 'rest' card that effectively finished his game off. The resulting tap penalty was taken by the very aware Coalville wing forward who scooted across the line as the final whistle blew. The kick was unsuccessful. Grimsby were well and truly beaten by a team that wanted to win more than they did. Simple errors and a lack of heart and passion by the majority of th team lost them the game. Next week a club team is touring the North East on an Easter Tour with the next league game away at Loughborough on 2nd April.