Grimsby 17 Notts Moderns 18
This was the first league meeting between the two sides for 8 years, and high flying Grimsby unfortunately were brought down to earth with a bump by a well drilled Moderns team.
Grimsby were the first to score, after some strong drives saw Pharaoh break left, feed Cairns who broke his mans tackle and drew the last man before passing on to Martin for the stocky winger to power over the line. Daly was able to convert for the bonus points.
Grimsby started to find their rythm, with many attacks just being held out by stout defence from Moderns. The visitors also showed that they had ability, with a strong driving maul, and a very powerful scrum, which caused the Grimsby pack problems all day. A number of darting runs, good pop passes and nice supporting play saw Moderns work their way into the Grimsby half, before a infringement by a Blue player saw a kickable opportunity handed to the Moderns fly half, who dutifully kicked the points on offer.
Moderns then went through a period of dominance. Although the Grimsby backline had their measure in most encounters, the Moderns backs were able to enjoy the lions share of possession as their pack controlled the breakdown. The pressure eventually paid off, after the fly half ran in the ball from a scrum, and was able to score under the posts. This shocked Grimsby into a more passionate state of mind, and indeed little Ben Pharaoh was able to charge the conversion down to prevent the extra 2 points being added to the Moderns tally.
This act of defiance spurred the pack on to greater endeavours. A series of penetrating runs lead to the team working their way into Moderns territory, before a nice cross field kick saw Martin take the ball on. A quick pop up saw the back row able to support before Newman was finally able to cross the line. The conversion attempt was missed.
Grimsby again continued to press, but were spilling the ball on far too many occasions, not a good idea with a scrum under such pressure! Despite this, the home side were again able to penetrate, before a Moderns infringement gave an opportunity for Daly to kick to stretch the lead. Unfortunately the attempt drifted wide, and the first half was over!
During the break, Grimsby took the chance to bring on some fresh legs, with stalwart Kempthorne being replaced by the somewhat younger limbs of Burke.
Grimsby's gameplan was to then increase the tempo of the match, to harry the opposition and take advantage of their errors. This was shown straight from the restart, when the catcher was put under severe pressure, causing him to lose possession. The ball was quickly snaffled back, and quick ball saw Dufton break through to cross the line for a great start to the half. The conversion was missed.but Grimsby were infront 17-8.
Moderns were soon to strike back though, another infringement in the Grimsby half led to yet another kickable penalty, which their fly half gratefully claimed. The Moderns 10 was to be a thorn in Grimsby's side, as once more he was able to score after a nice move saw the Grimsby defence stretched, giving him the space to touch down. The conversion just drifted in for the extra points.
Grimsby made another change, with Robson coimg off for the returning John Pomfret, recently back from a jaunt to the himalyas and being mistaken for a shaven yeti! The home side started to throw everything they could at Moderns, spending 20 minutes camped on the opposition line, but were unable to break through. Poor discipline at the maul saw players peeling off to knock on over the line, when a bit of patience would have seen the points secured. Everytime Moderns cleared their line, Grimsby were immediately back on the offensive, with 2 further penalty attempts being awarded, but both drifting wide. Saunders also joined the game at fullback for Darren Daly.
Despite the pressure Moderns were able to clear their lines, and indeed launched a counter attack which saw their winger heading for the line, before a high tackle stopped him in his tracks, but led to the perpetrator being given a yellow card, and a 10 minute rest. Things looked ominous for Grimsby, but the next ruck led to a Moderns player being awarded a yellow card also for a technical foul.
The last 10 minutes ticked by, but still Grimsby were unable to record anymore points, and Grimsby's unbeaten record this season was smashed. In fact the last time Grimsby had lost at home was in the 2nd half of the 2002-03 season.
Grimsby didn't play as well as the high standards they now set themselves, but the opposition were a well drilled outfit, who had been relegated from Midlands 2 last year, and are definately no mugs team!
This week the 1st XV have no fixture, as the scheduled 2nd Round Powergen tie against Coalville, was played earlier in the season as a double header in the league encounter.