Fine display as All Blacks do double

The Gainsborough side had gone through a comprehensive warm-up and it told right from the kick-off as they attacked the visitors, tied them down in their own half and for the first 20 minutes played some superb rugby.

North Hykeham could not get into the game and the All Blacks soon went in front.

Chadwick was a real thorn in the visitor’s side, playing superbly and taking some excellent ball, and his direct style caused real problems to the visitors’ defence.

Hykeham spent so much time trying to eliminate Chadwick it gave others the opportunity and this went on throughout the game, and they even changed personnel in the centres at half-time to try to combat the threat.

Gainsborough led 19-5 at the interval with a blind side try to Andy Turner, fine running try to Nathan Hymer Bates and a Chadwick touch down giving them the points. Shaun Parker added the conversions.

Hykeham did hit back before the interval and did look a little more threatening, managing to score their only try of the game just before half-time.

Coach Harry Sampson certainly made sure there was no complacency in the All Blacks side at half-time and the hosts kept the pressure on all the way through the game,

In fact Hykeham did not come into it in the second half.

They lost their discipline and on three separate occasions had players sent for 10 minutes in the bin.

Jeff Bates scored a fine individual try and James Taylor touched down a fine forwards move on the left wing to give Gainsborough a final points tally of 34.

Daniel Chadwick received the man of the match award but this was a good team performance.

Dodsley continues to give workmanlike performances every week, Grant Bell came on as substitute for the second week running and gave a commanding performance very much in the face of the opposition and driving the forwards on.

The hope is that this settled side can continue in the next two weeks with games against Lincoln in the Merit League and then the County Cup game against Horncastle in two weeks’ time.