Skegness welcomed league rivals Grimsby to Wainfleet Road in a rearranged friendly fixture.

First mentions must go to Grimsby for picking up the fixture late notice. We really appreciate them travelling over to us and getting a game on!

Skegness we’re keen to get going with a long preseason working on a new game style they wanted to start putting things into practice.

However it was the visitors who struck first. A Grimsby scrum on the Skegness 10m line gave them good attacking position. They moved the ball well and after 4 phases of attack found them selves with space out wide for the winger to squeeze in in the right corner. 0-5

The Skegness kickoff was chased well and when and infringement for holding on was given John Hummel took the opportunity to sweetly hit a kick to touch to take Skegness to 5m out.

The Skegness lineout drive that we saw so much of last season had its first showing and when all of the Grimsby forwards sucks on to try and stop the forward momentum, scrum half Hummel saw his gap and dove over the line. Hummel converted his own try. 7-5.

Skegness coninued with forward momentum but when they found themselves stripped of the ball within the Grimsby 22, the number out to the left gave Grimsby a 5-2. Skegness scrambled but were not able to stop Grimsby going over again. This time in the left corner. Converted by Grimsby 7-12.

Again Skegness continued with forward pressure playing in the Grimsby half. A penalty for not rolling away again gave Skegness a penalty and Hummel put the ball out of the 5m. Skegness went back to their driving maul. As the maul rolled prop dykes found himself at the front of the maul where he broke free, beat the last defender and crashed over the line. Converted by Hummel 14-12.

The second quarter began with a break by Grimsbys strong centre down the left wing. Grimsby recycled well to the right hand side where the winger stepped in and out and threw the Skegness defence off to score. Converted by Grimsby 14-19.

After some good play by Skegness and multiple Grimsby infringements keeping Skegness in Grimsby half another strong run down the left flank by Grimsbys strong running centre saw him bundled into touch. A mistake at the resulting lineout saw Grimsby move the ball through the hands right to create a 2-on-1 on the right wing for the winger again to dot down right in the corner. 14-24 HT.

After half time Skegness regained possession after a well chased kickoff. Some great carries first by Fly-half Keyun Benson and then by Prop Dan Dykes saw Skegness march up to 10m from the Grimsby line. Unfortunately at this point Grimsby ripped the ball straight into touch and the resulting Skegness lineout was lost allowing Grimsby, who now had the wind behind them, to clear their lines.

Skegness retuned back to their phase play when a dropped ball allowed their 10 to put on a big kick downfield. And awkward bounce back towards the Grimsby winger saw him regather and score. Converted 14-31.

After 10mins of Skegness pressure in the Grimsby 22. Grimsby finally managed to win back possession. As per the pattern of the game, Grimsby managed to move the ball well to find space on the left wing to score once more in the corner. 14-36.

The final quarter was a tense affair, with both team flagging in the heat. Despite the scoreless quarter Skegness managed to look at their most structured showing that that stuck to the plan and built into the game. Skegness had their best opportunity to score from open play when John Hummel went on one of his trademark lazy runs only for the offload inside 2m from Grimsby line to go to floor.

The game finished 14-36 to Grimsby but this was a great start to the season for Skegness with lots learned about the players and next steps.

The next fixture will be another friendly away at Horncastle on 13th September. Before competitive rugby begins the week after when Skegness welcome North Hykeham in the RFU Community Cup.

Man of the match was given to John Hummel for beating a threat ball on hand all day and clinical kicking from the tee (we won’t talk about the crossfields).

Veo (Match Footage):
Here