Panthers regain their momentum

Panthers had a point to prove after last weeks disappointing performance. They started well, building the phases of play with patience and composure.

Chesterfield started to utilise their skill and strength in the scrums, the mid-week drills shining through enabling them to win much of the contest, this combined with the wind on their backs, the set pieces naturally came together offering a pure form of play they had lacked the previous week. Ball delivery was clean from rucks as their strength bulldozed over the travel weary side. The backs started to make progress and kept much of the possession in Grimsby’s territory with a few excellent opportunities missed due to Grimsby’s solid defence.

After much embattlement and 30 Minutes into the first half, panthers moved forward into Grimsby’s 22 off a line-out. O’Neill came into the back line taking a wide pass off Sherlock and with a show and go he was through the line, not before handing off Gribsby’s 13 to then draw in their winger to then deliver a floating pass out to Bunting who was surprised and definitely disappointed he didn’t have put his power in to practice and run over anyone to get across the line. Panthers were now well into their stride.

Five minutes later Rusty playing out of position at full back fielded a kick in his 22. Choosing to run it back the 17 stone unit started to pick up momentum, beating two defenders before getting out of his own half. Support was either side of him, although he didn’t need them, as he galloped down the field and run in what maybe could be individual try of the season. Grimsby at this point looked bemused and defeated by an outfit that had previously lost to teams Grimsby had crushed. No more was this emphasized than Chesterfield being awarded a 5 metre scrum for the full set of forwards working together in unison to power the opposition over the try line for Luke ‘Beefy’ Holt to ground the ball.

10 minutes into the second half panthers second row (Ashley Holland) got into an altercation with one of Grimsbys players and was shown a Red for a debatable knee to the head. Tensions were fraught and tempers were beginning to fray for what was starting to shape up as a cross county battle. Panthers, 15 points ahead were now up against it as Grimsby tail’s were stating to get up and they could sense a comeback. With Sherlock picking up a knock, O’Neill had to move from openside to fly half. Chesterfield knew they had to continue to play rugby down in Grimsbys half and just tighten up their game, However errors started to creep in and the composure they showed in the first half was starting to fade. However the team played dug deep to show and showed some dogged determination to get the win.

Amongst the tries scored some excellent kicking was performed by Rusty who managed to power the ball over the sticks for a penalty and conversions.

This was solid performance from Panthers, with free flowing rugby being played. Chesterfield now need to kick on and take this forward and improve further.

Sherlocks Commented: " Some pieces of play were the best he had seen all season, however, too many penalties given away and occasions where we didn’t play as a team let us down."