First round honours for our Premier Men, Women and Colts teams

With our Premier Women's team picking up their first round plaque two weeks ago and both the Premier Men and Premier Colts cementing their top standing in the competition on Saturday the club is excited about the Championship rounds coming up. The Wethers had the BYE this week and will be chomping at the bit when they join their club mates out at Rawhiti this Saturday.

Although the Ewes went down to UC for the second time in a month the Lincoln ladies are committed to reaching the final with two matches remaining against Linwood this weekend and Christchurch the following. In a game of two halves the LU side trailed 0-22 at half time to come back to within 10 at the final whistle 19-29. The dominance of the wind and how we played into it was the difference on the day. This week the side has the LU fields to their own when they play Linwood at 2:45pm. 

Saturday night gave the club the opportunity to congratulate the Ewes, (Forne Burkin, Grace Brooker, Chelsea Bremner, Alana Bremner and Mel Puckett) that have been selected for higher honours in the Black Ferns and NZ Barbarians sides recently.

The Premier Colts played at home against a hugely improved New Brighton side in blustery conditions.  The side started well with a charge down from Ryan Barnes that resulted in Hamish Clapcott going over for his first after 6 minutes. Brighton struck back straight away with a sniping blind side run that was converted. From a LU mistake in their own territory New Brighton were able to exploit a gap and go over for their second to lead 12-5. Lincoln came back after 20 minutes with a bustling try close to the line to Harry McKay. 

The George Coull penalty at the 30 minute mark had the Lambs out to 15-12 but the boys from the beach weren't done and just before the half time break they went over for a simple try in the corner 17-15 in the visitors favour.

Unfortunately for New Brighton it was all Lincoln in the second half even with a man down. Lochie McNair was able to shoot through the ruck after a driving run from Daniel Johnson to go over under the posts, 22-17. Clapcott picked up his second with a strong angled run back towards the pack that Coull kicked over. With 20 to play Thomas Keeling finished off a good move to go over in the corner 34-17. With 10 to go an offside attacking penalty allowed Brighton to tap quickly and pick up a consolation 5 pointer. 

The final act was PJ Latu's try where he thought he was a forward and drove over at close range with Coull picking up his 5th successful kick to have the Lambs win 41-22 and pick up the Hawkins Premier Colts Cup (Charles Rhodes Cup) for the first round. The side had 8 wins from 8 matches with 8 bonus points. They scored 377 for and 79 against finishing on 40 points 9 clear of HSOB in second. Once again  the Lambs are very grateful for the excellent coverage by Gordon Duff Photography and his highlights package

Jim Doyle reports on the  Premier Men's match and their successful defence of the Hawkins Cup.

JUNE 8 2019 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY v BURNSIDE At Burnside Park: Lincoln University 50 (Fletcher Morgan 2, Oscar Koller, Kale Thatcher, Luke Donaldson, Caleb Makene, Sam Gilbert tries; Gilbert 6 conv, pen) beat Burnside 12 (Steven Snoxell, Conor McManus tries; Phil Gibson conv). HT: 24-5. Referee: John Whitcombe. 

There’s probably no truth to the rumour that the Rams management flooded a back paddock at Lincoln and installed a wind turbine to prepare the side for inclement weather in early June. Certainly skipper Nic Souchon let nothing slip in that regard as he reflected on the Rams retaining the Hawkins Cup with the bonus-point win at Burnside. The Rams have really turned it on in the last two weeks but Souchon said it wasn’t to do with individual brilliance. “We aren’t a team of superstars,’’* he said. “It’s all about the mindset. No matter who’s on the paddock, everyone gives it their best, no matter what position they’re asked to play in. We’re a tight-knit group. “The way the boys are playing makes my job a lot easier. There’s a lot of history between us and Burnside so it was good to do the business today.” 

The players have pulled together superbly since a couple of glitches earlier in the season and it’s nice to see newer men like Josh Bokser, Glen Beardsley, Kale Thatcher, Luke Donaldson, Oscar Koller, Fletcher Morgan and Coel Kerr going so well. Koller looked his most assured at first-five, giving impetus to the backline with crisp running and passing. He scored the first try, on the blindside of a 5m scrum, no defender getting near him as he scooted through. Beardsley is getting stronger with every game and Kerr is both robust and clever in tight situations. Bokser’s done well to slot in at lock in a time of need and do the job well. 

Morgan scored the vital fourth try early in the second half, finishing slick backline play off a scrum 22m out. The Rams on the field were well aware of the significance of the touchdown. As it turned out, Christchurch had a bonus-point win over Marist Albion and remained just a point behind the Rams. Sam Gilbert gave another near faultless goal-kicking display in difficult conditions, missing only the conversion of his own try right at the end. The miss meant that residents several blocks away weren’t woken again from their afternoon naps by the strident cry “Nudge, Gilby!!” More’s the pity. 

They should have been at the ground supporting their local team. The local team enjoyed some strong passages of play, sparked by the likes of No.8 Christiaan Grandiek and slippery first-five Yusho Takeda. Takeda took a couple of heavy knocks and was eventually replaced by Phil Gibson, who made his 152nd appearance for the club’s senior side. Halfback Conor McManus also looked the goods, scoring a sharp try early in the second half. 

Note: Lincoln University have won the round-robin championship in Christchurch premier rugby six times: in 1981 (as Lincoln College), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. *It’d be nice if Mark Reason heard that (see Sunday-Star Times, June 9, page 30).

See what the Player of the Day John Borland has to say about the match.