They came away from their visit to local rivals Lincoln on Saturday on the receiving end of a disappointing result but feeling strongly that it is only a matter of time before the results start going their way.

The game kicked off with Sleaford determined to put previous results to bed and they attacked from the off.

With a couple of regulars absent through injury, coach Nathan Smith had to make some last minute changes.

Centre Ryan Bachelor was as reliable as ever and made several good foraging runs, testing the Lincoln defence, while the forwards scrummaged well and competed for ball at the rooks and mauls.

Fly half James Offer opened the scoring for Sleaford with a well taken penalty, which was followed with tries from Gareth Bradwell, Charlie Sammut and Josh Robotham, all of which Offer converted.

But it was not enough to overhaul a confident Lincoln side who found their way through the Sleaford defence on too many occasions.

Injury to Paul Kite caused a reshuffle, with Carl Wetherill swapping to full back and John Pocklington entering the fray on the wing, with Ali Priestly taking over hooking duties from Leo Hunt.

Despite defeat, Sleaford took away many positives from this game and will be hoping to record their first league victory of the season when they entertain league newcomers Loughborough at Ruskington Road on Saturday.

Sleaford 1st XV squad: Lewis, Hunt, Loveday, Frisby, Downing, Sammut, Bradwell, Daughtry (c), Mackie, Offer, Wetherill, Adamson, Bachelor, Robotham, Kite, Pocklington P, Watson

Sleaford 2nd XV 17 - Lincoln 2nd XV 38

The match was originally scheduled as a Pennant League game, but was eventually played as a friendly due to the no show of a match official.

Both teams agreed on the switch and were grateful to Lee Williams who officiated in the absence of the match official.
Like the first team, the seconds were forced to make late changes due to injury and illness, with several players playing out of position.

At the kick off Lincoln were quicker to respond and soon had two scores on the board before Gareth Ambler hit back with two tries for Sleaford, with stand in fly half Simon Farmery converting one. Lincoln hit back again with another score to lead 19-12 at half time.

Further injury problems forced Sleaford into more changes, with Anderson and Andrews spending time off the pitch.

In the second period, Lincoln added 19 more unanswered points before Ryan Tilling rounded the match off with a well executed try after some good handling skills from the back line. That left the score 38-17 in favour of the visitors. The seconds travel to Loughborough this Saturday.

Sleaford 2nd XV squad: Jeffries, Woollatt, Rush, Speight, Hopkins A, Cockcroft, Pocklington H, King (c), Lloyd, Farmery, Anderson, Andrews, Tilling, Ambler, Hopkins J, Starkey, Towers