Lincoln Tested Bv University B

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31991, 19 May 1969, Page 16

Lincoln Tested Bv University B

LINCOLN COLLEGE U: L. Scherp and J. Dickie tries; S. M. Murray a penalty goal and a conversion.

UNIVERSITY B 6: D. Papps two penalty goals.

In spite of its forwards dominating possession from both set and loose play, Lincoln College was a strangely impotent force and had to battle hard to win.

Within minutes of the start, Lincoln opened the scoring with a fine try by Dickie after a surging forward rush led by A. McLellan. For the next 20 minutes Lincoln maintained this same momentum with its backs running hard and the forwards eager to initiate second-phase play.

However, it was University which was next to score when Papps kicked two good penalties during rare University excursions into Lincoln territory. In the last minutes of the half Scherp scored a good forward try after the Lincoln pack had bullocked to the University line from broken play. Lincoln’s line-out dominance continued into the second half, due largely to Scherp’s excellent jumping at number three Murray kicked a 50-yard penalty and it appeared that a large Lincoln victory was assured.

However, in the last quarter of the match the University forwards were able to dispute possession with their larger counterparts, so that University enjoyed parity in territorial terms. Lincoln’s inability to use its overwhelming possession effectively could not be attributed to Goddard, who varied and directed his back-line's play with skill. Rather it was occasional mishandling and hesitancy in mid-field which saw Lincoln’s possession squandered. M. Moore, on the right wing, ran with enthusiasm. Scherp, in particular, and McLellan and Lee were outstanding in a Lincoln pack which excelled in most phases of play. For University, Grimwood and Sellars in the centres tackled {well. The back-line had few chances on attack, partly because of a sometimes unhappy liaison between Phillipson and Papps. Hay was the pick of three fine University loose forwards; and Read and Gardiner did well to win line-out ball in the last 20 minutes when the Lincoln pressure might otherwise have told.

Referee: Mr D. M. Sampson.