Three tries from Smith as Red and Blacks win on the road
Mellish 12
Sleaford RFC 1st XV 41
SLEAFORD first fifteen returned to action on Saturday after a two week break due to the recent ice and snow.
The team saw a number of changes, with Cox returning to full back, Dave Gunter moving into centre, Holmes stepping in at scrum half and Cockcroft starting in the second row.
Sleaford faced the wind in the first half and Mellish were quickly out of the blocks, pushing Sleaford off the ball at the break down and showing early dominance in the scrum.
The home side were awarded a scrum on Sleaford’s five metre line and the Red and Blacks were driven backward, resulting in a penalty try for Mellish when the scrum was brought down by the Sleaford front row.
On 20 minutes Fisher off loaded to Holmes and, with the resultant overlap, Smith scored in the right corner to put five points on the board for Sleaford.
Another overlap on the right was neatly finished by Smith, who scored his second try of the game to give Sleaford a 10–7 lead at half time.
In the second Sleaford’s fitness began to tell and Mellish struggled to keep up with the quick rugby the Red and Blacks were playing.
A penalty from Mackie added a further three points for Sleaford and the infringement resulted in a Mellish player 10 minutes off the park for consistent dissent.
Sleaford took full advantage of the extra man, scoring three converted tries before the player returned to the field.
Smith went over for his third try of the game and Spencer and Lowerth also scored.
From the base of a scrum the ball was moved quickly from Holmes to Mackie, stepped inside his opposite number to go over under the posts and set up an easy conversion.
In the game Mackie kicked four conversions and a penalty.
Sleaford 1st XV: Ashton, Harley. Andrews. Cockcroft, Downing, Lowerth, A. Gunter, Fisher, Hopkins, Mackie, Smith, D. Gunter, Spencer, Titmus, Cox.
Replacements: Hopkins, Chambers.
Sleaford scorers: Tries - Smith (3); Lowerth; Spencer, Mackie; Conversions – Mackie (4); Penalties – Mackie
n This Saturday, Sleaford 1st team travel to Stourbridge Lions for their rearranged semi final clash. Kick off 3pm.
A coach is travelling from Sleaford Rugby Club. Any spectators who wish to travel on the coach should get in touch with the club.
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Weather for Sleaford
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
