On a sunny but very blustery day, Panthers traveled to Sleaford to take on their 2nds, a team that hasn't played a game for several months, so we knew it would be a tough ask.
Sleaford started the better with control in the scrum, and it was 0-0 with some stout defending by the panthers team leading into the 2nd quarter, but some loose play allowed Sleaford to power over the line after a sustain period of pressure on the panthers line.
Panthers when what they had to do, but with very little ball to the backs it was very difficult, but from a huge effort and quick ball to the back Scott off loaded to Jake Blair who run through two tackles and showed a clean pair of heels to the defenders to score under the posts, Rich Keeling converted. This gave Panthers the belief they needed and from a another good scrummage and a great run by Phil Cawthorne he kicked through and chased it down to score in the corner, sadly the referee took advice from the touch judge and it wasnt allowed. Phil was adament he scored but the lads put it behind them and got on with the game.
Half Time 7-5 to Panthers
The second half was very similar to the 1st with Sleaford having the better hand in the scrum and they scored twice without converting to lead 15-7.
Panthers weren't having any of it and kept coming back with some great breaking runs by Lee Laughton, Jack Short and Liam Charlesworth but some great defending by Sleaford stopped these attacks. From one such attack Sleaford cleared their lines but only to the 5m line, with a great catch and drive on the 5m line, Lee Laughton drew in two men in a maul, this gave James Fletcher the chance to spin and drive over to score, the conversion was missed.
Jake Blair was unfairly given a yellow card for being offside on too many occasions, it was a case of being just too quick with the defensive line speed, one that the other backs should have seen and sorted out.
Panthers had several chances to steal the game at the death but just fell sort, in honesty Panthers fell short due to not playing the ball in hand, as Sleaford struggled to deal with us when we ran at them, but with the 3rd team players stepping up and some of the opposition we played against, it was a good defensive effort and we came through it with no injuries.
Massive thanks to the travelling supporters, more away than home fans, well done to all the players, the referee and for the hospitality from Sleaford.
Man of the match goes to Jack Short, and DOD goes to Sam 'Fag ash ankles' Warwick (I've got kankles) for lasting 5 minutes and spoiling the game plan.
Seriously really well done today and next Saturday will be a run through ready for the final, and watch the touring side play our 3rds

Match details

Match date

Sat 19 Apr 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Team overview