Pre Match
Despite a number of players missing due to injury, a school trip to the England game, and the Uppingham 7s, K's fielded a squad of 19 for the game against Lincoln:
1. George S
2. Will M
3. Dan W
4. Thomas H
5. Henry S
6. Joel S
7. Tom McD
8. Will H
9. Alf A
10. Rhys S
11. Toby S
12. Oscar H
13. Alfie O
14. Aidan S
15. Dylan G

Finishers
1. Lawrence BP
2. Robert T
3. Nathan S
4. James H

On a lovely sunny day, and with the NLD Cup semi-final draw still not released, this was a good opportunity to see how we measured up against perennial semi-final opponents, and good friends, Lincoln.

First Half
K's received the kick-off and were immediately on the front foot, and despite losing possession, they quickly regained it and advanced quickly into the Lincoln 22m. Two crossfield kicks failed to unlock the defence before a knock-on gave Lincoln the chance to kick clear. Lincoln recovered the ball and ran several phases before conceding a penalty, from which K's missed touch and kicked dead, giving Lincoln a scrum 30m out from their own line. The resulting kick clear ended with a lineout for K's just inside the Lincoln 22m. K's ran several phases before Will M stepped up to score for K's, 0-5.

K's immediately launched another attack from the restart, passing well to burst back into the Lincoln half before a big hit on Henry forced a knock-on and scrum to the home team. Lincoln found a gap through the K's centres to create a gap, with a good offload to enable Lincoln's first try, 7-5, following a super touchline conversion that Finn Russell would have given his right arm for!

From the restart, Lincoln worked the ball to halfway before K's defence won a lineout. Tom McD almost broke through but K's conceded a penalty moments later, which Lincoln kicked into touch around halfway. From the lineout, K's defence stood strong, ultimately winning a scrum for a knock-on. Possession was exchanged several times with the game being played between the Lincoln 22m and halfway, until a long clearance kick from Lincoln pushed K's back to the edge of their 22m. Tom McD was instrumental in the break back over the halfway line, resulting in a K's penalty that didn't find touch. K's won a lineout nonetheless and camped in the Lincoln 22m, ultimately being rewarded with Henry's first try of the season, a pick and go from 5m. Alfie O slotted a super touchline kick to add two and embarrass Finn Russell even further, 7-12.

K's again launched back up the pitch from the restart, before Thomas H rampaged into the Lincoln 22m, sustaining an injury for his efforts. The game restarted with a Lincoln scrum. Good pressure from K's almost forced the opening but Lincoln survived to half time.

Second Half
K's got the second half underway and managed to hold Lincoln in their own territory until winning a lineout on halfway. Errant handling gifted the ball to Lincoln who set up camp in the K's 22m before touching down to retake the lead, 14-12.

Shortly after the restart, K's won a scrum inside the Lincoln half and Alfie O broke through the defensive line, deep into the 22m. K's recycled and clever distribution from Rhys set up Will H to pile through the tackles to score. Alfie O converted to retake the lead, 14-19.

Again, from the restart, K's raced up to halfway before Tom McD broke through the defence again to propel K's back into Lincoln's territory, only to lose the ball moments later. Now back in their own half, it was Tom McD who broke again, exchanging passes with George, to Rhys and then Oscar as K's broke back into the home team's half. But Lincoln turned the ball over, won a penalty and cleared their lines. From the lineout, they broke the K's line and worked an overlap to score and retake the lead with a well-worked try, 21-19.

After the restart, K's benefitted from a knock-on and kicked the ball into the Lincoln 22m for a home team lineout. Joel did brilliantly to win the ball and gain possession for K's, enabling Will M to drive in close to the line. But Lincoln regained possession next phase, though a sliced kick clear under pressure gave K's another chance. The rolling maul worked well but the ball was held up. The goalline drop went straight out so K's had a 5m scrum, followed by a penalty, from which Will H couldn't be stopped. Alfie O added the kick to give K's a 21-26 lead in this tit for tat game.

Again K's quickly went upfield from the restart, this time thanks to a kick from Alfie O that was knocked-on. K's made the break all the way to the line before Alfie O popped up to crash over and add the two, 21-33.

Lincoln launched an assault on the K's line for several minutes after the restart, but K's defence stood strong and forced Lincoln back to halfway before advancing into the home 22m thanks to a clever kick, as the game closed out with no further score.

Post Match
MOTM was Will H - welcome back and well played.