Coalville 44 Grimsby 18
Catch-up rugby proved Grimsby's undoing for the second week running as the Blues went down heavily at Coalville. Conceding two early tries courtesy of a light midfield defence, Grimsby always faced an uphill struggle. But powerful forward play and incisive running lines from half-backs Daly and Pharaoh put the Blues back in contention. After continued forward pressure, lock Ian MacDonald light-footed his way to cross for five points. Daly added the conversion, and two penalties before the break.
But, in a pattern mirrored last week at Notts Moderns, the half-time whistle came five minutes too soon. With the Blues camped in the Coalville 22 looking to even the scores, the referee's whistle took the wind from the Blues' sails. After the turnaround the hard work to get back in contention was undone almost straight away. Coalville's full-back stepped inside a dog-legged defensive line, before grubbering through on the edge of the 22. He collected his kick to touch down and kill any thoughts of a Grimsby fightback. The Blues' momentum was stopped in its tracks. Time and again they huffed and puffed but couldn't find the killer touch to finish flashes of incisive play. Strong rucking and improved ball retention still failed to provide enough of a platform to break the Coalville defence. Working hard to keep possession, cheap turnovers destroyed well-worked platforms, he home side's slick counter attacks catching the Blues flat-footed too often. Newman added respectability to the scoreline with a strong drive from an inside ball before rounding the winger. But Coalville extended their lead at the death with a tight pushover try.
Despite another heavy loss, Grimsby put together stronger patterns of play and slicker ball retention. But the injury jinx continues to blight the club's winless start to the season. Prop Paul Brittain limped off with a recurrence of his knee injury, and captain Ben Pharaoh aggravated his thigh strain.
The Pavilion, Springfield Road, Scartho, Grimsby, NE Lincs, DN33 3JF