Grimsby 10 Nottingham Moderns 11
This was a must win' game for Grimsby Firsts in their battle to avoid relegation this season from Midlands Div III East (North), and they came close, but ultimately just fell short. Moderns made a determined start but were kept out by an equally determined Grimsby defence, when Moderns were held up about 5 metres out then infringed. They were marched back 10 metres for dissent allowing Grimsby to clear their lines. The home team then began to build an attack but Moderns were penalised for diving over the ball in the ruck on the halfway line. Grimsby elected to kick for posts and were unlucky not to score when the attempt from fly half Darren Daly fell just 5 metres short.
After 10 mins the Blues lost lock Nigel Kempthorne to the sin bin and a few minutes later Moderns went ahead with a penalty kick after centre Kevin Dufton was judged to have not rolled away in the tackle. The two sides then slogged it out for a time, with neither really gaining the upper hand until lock Tom Montague received the ball after good work from the forwards and No.8 Mike Newman in particular. Montague drove over the opposition line to score a try and open the scoring for Grimsby . The conversion attempt did not succeed. Although the home side did not help themselves on a number of occasions by failing to make touch from kicks, they nevertheless managed a period of sustained pressure, ably led by captain Shane Lowery who made a number of breaks from the scrum half position, but failed to turn their apparent advantage into points and the teams turned round at half time with Grimsby just 5-3 ahead.
8 minutes into the second half, as Moderns were attacking the Grimsby line they were awarded a penalty within easy reach of the posts. The ensuing kick was successful, enabling the visitors to reclaim the lead at 6-5. Marc Burke was then brought on for Kempthorne Senior and a few minutes later Tim Mellors replaced James Norman on the flank. The fresh legs appeared to spur the home side on, but despite some excellent handling Grimsby failed to make proper use of the speed laying dormant in their back three, with the wrong option of taking the ball into contact, rather than using the overlap, being preferred on too many occasions. Against the run of play Moderns then found themselves in an attacking position when a penalty was awarded against the home side for handling in the ruck. From the ensuing move, the visitors went over for a try, which they failed to convert. Grimsby did not give in, and, with about 3 minutes of play left and Ron Holt on in the back row for Gavin Kempthorne, some excellent interlinking of forwards and backs resulted in Grimsby progressing into the opposition half and threatening a score. Moderns then infringed again about 10 metres out and Newman, needing no second invitation, took a quick tap for the penalty and charged his way through to score Grimsby 's second try. A successful conversion was needed to win the game and the home supporters held their breath as Daly stepped up to the mark. The kick was not an easy one, however, and despite a good strike fell short leaving the scores at 11 10 to the away team. There was a minute left to play from the restart and Grimsby threw everything into the counter-attack, but eventually they were forced into touch and the referee blew the final whistle.