Panthers 1st XV get payback over Sleaford

Chesterfield Panthers 32 Sleaford 8

After the long festive break Panthers returned to action at home taking on 7th place Sleaford. After losing by a single point in the last matchup Chesterfield had a point to prove.

Conditions were downright awful with gale force winds blowing down the pitch. With this in mind skipper Chris Ward chose to play into the wind after winning the toss.

Kesteven started the game spritely after three penalties conceded by Panthers allowed them three shots at goal with the wind behind them. However, only one was successful giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Panthers then began to settle into an intelligent gameplan, keeping the ball tight in the forwards and repeatedly moved the ball the full length of the pitch. Ward playing out of position at scrum-half was first to touch down following a scrum. Ward passed kicking duties to Iain Taylor after suffering an injury and the conversion was missed die to the dreadful conditions.

Chesterfield continued to dominate possession and eat into the clock taking valuable opportunities away from the away side with the wind behind them. Ash Holland thought he had scored his first try for the 1st XV only for the referee to award a knock-on. This was soon followed up though by flanker Liam O'Neill as he crashed over from close range. Again the conversion was missed.

Closing on the break Sleaford pinned Panthers back on their own try line and the no.9 was able to slip a tackle and touch down for the visitors.

Panthers immediately drove the ball up to Sleaford's line and it was only some last ditch tackling that prevented Chesterfield scoring a third try as the referee brought a close to the half.

With the wind and sun now behind Panthers the home looked to open up their lead after dominating the first half.

A solid kicking display from fly-half Iain Taylor gave Chesterfield excellent field position throughout the half and after Sleaford conceded several penalties close to their line Liam O'Neill crossed for his brace.

From the restart Chesterfield again turned the screw leading to further penalties and Joe Walton was able to cross for a carbon copy minutes later. Again Taylor could not find the posts in the awful conditions.

Chesterfield now enjoyed total dominance in the scrum pushing Sleaford off their own ball. From a 5m scrum Chesterfield walked the ball over the line only the referee to adjudge stand in no.8 Jamie Barnett to have knocked the ball on before scoring. Moments later Panthers were again the same position and this time there was no contention as Barnett scored Panthers 5th.

With the game closing out there was still time for some mazy running from backs Tye Rose, Adam Miles & Ben Bunting who undid Sleaford's defence once again scoring Chestetfields 6th and final try. Adam Miles was finally able to add a conversion to close the game out.

Panthers 32 Sleaford 8

Skipper Chris Ward said 'we won this game through intelligent rugby, we employed the forwards in the first half to devastating effect & effectively tookthe game by half-time. This win keeps us in third close behind second place. A very good days work.'

Coach Sherlock selected Liam O'Neill as man of the match with his two tries.

A special mnetion also goes to Terry Titley who got onto the pitch for all three Chesterfield teams during the afternoon. Kudos.

Panthers: Paul Jones, Rob Davison, Steve Allen, Ashley Holland, Alex Allen, Liam O'Neill, Chris Brailsford, Jamie Barnett, Chris Ward (c), Iain Taylor, Adam Miles, Ben Bunting, Tye Rose, Glenn Grayson

Subs: Ali Sherlock, Joe Walton, Terry Titley

Tries: Liam O'Neill 2, Chris Ward, Ben Bunting, Jamie Barnett, Joe Walton

Conversion: Adam Miles