Skegness 1st XV 38-0 Cleethorpes 1st XV

     Skegness showed their true worth at the weekend by beating Cleethorpes. The blue and whites dominated with powerful and aggressive tackling. Cleethorpes threw all they had at the home side’s line but could not breach the seasiders defences.
Due to injuries and unavailability Skegness blooded two second team members in a crucial league fixture. Delafontaine played at prop and was solid all game. Bradberry tackled like a demon and kept the Cleethorpes runners at bay.
Cummings scored the first and only try in the first half. Haigh broke from inside his own twenty-two metre line. Divilly supported and offloaded in the tackle. Excellent rucking from Johnson, Machin and Bignell on two occasions gave the back line an overlap. Cummings received the ball with nobody at home and finished under the posts. Smith converted the first of his four kicks to make the score 7-0.
The second half gave Skegness the elements and the used them to full advantage. With increased flair and determination the blue and whites accelerated into full gear. Pollock scored two tries from fly half. His first came from Kime’s sublime switch with the running Divilly. His progress towards the try line was threatened by two covering tacklers. Kime offered himself on the wing after starting the move. The scrum half fended off one of the challengers and found the speedy Pollock to score under the posts. He later scored his second from Jackson’s dynamic run from the base of a scrum which was won against the head.
Jackson scored a try of his own from a scrum on the five metre line. Taylor’s power gave Skegness the tactical advantage. Jackson’s low and purposeful run reaped rewards for the second rower.
Captain Machin, Wood and Bradberry left the field midway through the second half. They made way for Hothcin, T.Hill and A.Hill. who performed well and played a part in the final tries.
Haigh scored two of these tries. The first came from good handling and straight running. The insurgence of pace from Cook was key as the tacklers struggled to halt the blue and whites. Haigh finished well in the corner. His second came from his usual show and go which the Cleethropes defence could not stop. He shimmered under the posts to score.
The final whistle blew and the drubbing was complete. Skegness had won their final league fixture of the season in a convincing way. Next week Skegness travel away to Spalding and hope to finish the season on a high note.

Skegness 1st XV
Cummings, Bradberry (T.Hill), Delafontaine, Taylor, Jackson, Johnson, Bignell, Machin (Hotchin), Divilly, Pollock, Wood (A. Hill), Haigh, Smith, Kime, Cook.