Saturday 1st Sept Kesteven 2nd 17 - Lincoln 3rd 27

Saturday saw the first chance for the dog pack to stretch the legs and see what damage had been done with the usual summer fitness routines...

With familiar faces and some new guys coming in, it took the side some time to gel as a team playing against a youthful looking Lincoln 3rd team. The early exchanges looked promising with full back Daz Blackley tacking a straight line through the Lincoln back division. The attack came to nothing as Lincoln cleared their lines.
If anything, it was Kesteven's own mistakes coughing up possesion to Lincoln which allowed the visitors to clinically finish 2 tries with their opening 2 chances. Perhaps last season this would have seen the second string capitulate, however, captain Pete Dolan has instilled a resolve that saw the pick and drive routine which so suited them last season used and eventually Ollie Hanson burrowed over for the opening score, for a 10-5 half time score.

Changes were rung at half time to give all the subs a decent run out and this disrupted continuity within the side. Lincoln stretched their lead early on, but Kesteven still looked to be playing the more attacking rugby, with the resurgent Mark Dent playing out of position at number 8 particularly effective. Eventually after a sustained amount of pressure, and what must admired as great Lincoln defence, a half break from Curtis Dingley lead to an inside pass for Jack Danford to finish the score. The extras were completed by Dingley. Unfortunately Lincoln then spotted a chink in the Kesteven defence on the right side where their quick wing managed to engineer 2 quick tries.
Undaunted by this, K's picked themselves up and again rumbled upfield for ollie hanson to complete his brace of tries and cap an all round quality performance by the 2nd rower.

All in all an encouraging start by the dog pack, which left Captain Dolan encouraged if of course a little disappointed as more clinical decision making at crucial times could have resulted in a victory. For Kesteven Rob Cann and Mark Dent were a nuisance to Lincoln all day with Ollie Hanson the pick with his 2 tries. In the backs, Curtis Dingley showed glimpses of his ability, with Daz Blackley putting in a solid game at full back.

Next week the second string play another friendly against a Melton Mowbray 'casual' side...

Team

Dolan P, Cann R, King C, Hanson O, Price A, Hughes J, Dolan R, Dent M, Danford J, Dingley C, Charles I, Betts B, Windsor R, Smith S, Blackley D, Smith T, Macallister I, North M, Martin H, Smart J