A stiff wind blowing diagonally across the pitch made handling a lottery but the visitors used the elements to their advantage in the opening period
Pinned deep in their own half, Sleaford's defence looked solid enough but good play from the visit
ing pack saw them eventually force their way over from close range. The try was converted.
From the re-start the Red and Blacks took the game to Loughborough, with Mackie's pace from scrum half a threat and James Offer looking to be creative despite the conditions.
Sleaford hammered away at Loughborough's line but only had an Offer penalty to show for their endeavours.
A lack of concentration saw all Sleaford's hard work undone as Loughborough immediately extended their lead with a try very similar to their first, and again the conversion was successful.
Sleaford's player coach Offer then had to leave the field after the flare up of an old old shoulder injury.
The Red and Blacks trailed 17-3 at half time.
Sleaford pulled a try back in the second half. With the visitors a man down in the scrum, the Red and Blacks opted for a scrum rather than a shot at goal and the forwards provided a solid platform that allowed Sammut to touch down easily as Loughborough's scrum collapsed. Mackie successfully kicked the conversion.
Boosted by this score and with the advantage of the strong wind, the home side set about the visitors with greater confidence. With Collyer executing the half time game plan well, further chances soon came, but the clearest opportunity was missed, winger Dave Hankinson knocking on when a try seemed certain.
The game then became something of a stalemate, with both teams missing opportunities before the visitors claimed two late tries, both partially gifted by the home side, to ensure the win for Loughborough.
It left Sleaford still searching for that elusive first win.
Sleaford 1st XV squad: David Davies, Ali Priestly, Simon Lewis, Adam Downing, Andy Daughtrey, John Pocklington, Gareth Bradwell, Charles Sammut, Daniel Mackie, James Offer, David Hankinson, Euan Adamson, Ryan Bachelor, Tom Mahoney, Tom Collyer, Carl Wetherill, Shaun Fisher, Jude Chalmers
Loughborough 2nd XV 43 v Sleaford 2nd XV 5
SLEAFORD seconds lost heavily in their Pennant League game at Loughborough.
In the early phases, Sleaford soaked up the pressure well and after 20 minutes the score remained 0-0.
The home side opened the scoring with a well taken try, which they followed up immediately from the restart with a second try without the Sleaford team touching the ball.
From there, Loughborough opened up a 24 point lead by half time.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with any attacking move by Sleaford being excellently countered by a well drilled and well organised Loughborough team.
The home side continued to score their tries in pairs and opened up a 43-0 lead before Sleaford claimed a late consolation score. Full back Paul Kite saw a slight gap and made the break, shrugging off four tackles in a 30 yard sprint down the left before releasing wing man Daniel Anderson, who went over for the try.
Sleaford 2nd XV: Andrews, Woollatt, Farmery, Speight, Hopkins, Cockcroft, King (c)' Hards, Lloyd, McQuade, Anderson, Tilling, Beever, Ambler, Kite, Pocklington, Frisby
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