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    • Away vs Lincoln Uni

    Round 8

    30th May 2010 - 2:45pm

    Venue : Lincoln University 1

    Result : 31 - 15

    Match Report

    New Brighton took the DCL Shield out to Lincoln this weekend to face Lincoln University on a wet and cold day. The rain had not stopped all week and although it stayed away for the majority of the game the saturated ground made playing conditions particularly tricky.

    Lincoln started the game in determined fashion and quickily established some dominance up front, they were very direct using forward runners around the fringes and Brighton struggled to contain them. When Brighton did get some posession errors were a feature and with the lineout not functioning they were under plenty of territorial pressure for much of the opening period.

    An early penalty was followed by a well worked try to Lincoln giving them a 10-0 lead early in the half. Brighton couldn't get out of first gear and were struggling to absorb the pressure they were being put under. As a result it was Lincoln who extended their lead after 25 minutes with another well taken try after some sloppy defence.

    This seemed to spark a reaction from Brighton who began to gain some field position and looked a little more dangerous, however little errors and a disfunctional lineout were still preventing them from making any inroads into the home sides lead. Several kickable penalties were awarded but the sodden ground made kicking difficult and these opportunities to get on the board were spurned.

    It wasn't until the last play of the first half that Brighton's pressure eventually paid dividends with a good try following a number of close range set pieces. The conversion was missed for a 15-5 half time score line.

    The second half saw a much improved performance from the DCL Shiled holders as Lincoln ran out of steam. Brighton attacked a little further out from the ruck using their strong runners and a dominant scrum began to take its toll. Brighton begun to get a firm hold on the game but the conditions still made continuity difficult so patients was required.

    Lincoln were by now struggling to get out of their half making basic errors of their own and the pressure eventually told with a well taken try to Lewis Pou after some forward pressure close to the line. A change of kicker proved no more successful the score moving to 15-10.

    Brighton soon took the lead after some good pressure on the Lincoln scrum enabled Jamyn Keats to charge down the attempted clearance kick, he did well to regather at the second attempt to dot down under the post. The first successful kick of the day made the score 17-15 to Brighton.

    Having lost the lead and all their momentum there was a noticeable dropping of heads from the young Lincoln team and Brighton were in the mood to take advantage scoring two more tries before the end of the game including a push over try from a scrum to Aaron McCoy. David Cattermole having taken over the kicking duties found his range and added the conversions making the full time score 31-15.

    After a slow start Brighton dominated the game and had it not been for the poor conditions the winning margin would have been greater. Brighton still have plenty to work on, inparticular a shaky lineout and finding a way to start games better, but in the end their quality came through and a bonus point victory was deserved.

    However the win came at a cost with Chris Damsteegt suffering what is likely to be a season ending injury, he will be a big loss having been one of the most consistent players so far this season.