Seasiders on Manouvers

Southwell 2nd XV 24 V 12 Skegness 1st XV

While many sports sell out to commercialism, grass roots rugby continues in it’s attempts to stay true to it’s traditions. Along with respect for match officials, choral practice and courtroom discipline the joys of ‘touring’ whether for a day or a more extended period, are fundamentally part of what makes rugby the game it is.

Sadly, too many players went awol when the annual ‘away day’ to Southwell was held on Saturday and rather than sending its battalions into the fray, Skegness had to make do with a valiant band of skirmishers.

At role call, only 11 players were on parade to answer reveille and the blue and whites had to call up reserves from the home side. To the visitors, it felt as though the last post was about to be played as they manned the trenches and prepared to go over the top when the balloon went up.

However, from the opening salvos it was Skegness who attacked on all fronts, refusing to keep their powder dry.

From a scrum in the Southwell half, Jackson led the cavalry charge, making ground before being felled as though hit by sniper fire. Hill continued the blitz of the enemy lines and looked to have crashed over while the home players appealed for a foot in touch. Trying to avoid a potential minefield, Captain Machin volunteered a line-out and the potential bomb was defused.

The home side took full advantage of this generosity to score two quick-fire tries. It could have been worse had it not been for some quick thinking in defence by Cummings and Cameron elder. Cummings leapt like a mortar to tap the ball infield to the ‘grey squirrel’ who ensured possession was maintained. 

The Blue and Whites took full advantage. Bradbury who was the dominant hooker, won possession at scrumtime, the ever-present Johnson powered forwards and when the No. 8 was tackled, Cameron the younger provided the link that led to the first Skegness try.

After the break, the home side exerted considerable pressure scoring again but the try of the match and the last word belonged to Skegness. From near half-way Rory Cameron, held the defensive line before slipping the ball to Smith. The young centre powered through the tackles and with the line in sight fed Haig who ran in under the posts.

Skegness: S. Cummings, J. Bradbury, N. Jackson, A. Hill, A. Machin, S. Johnson, J. Cameron, R. Cameron, C. Haig, J. Smith, I. Cameron.