It's tries galore as Blues' home unbeaten run ends
THE Blues are aiming to bounce back from their first home league defeat of the campaign when they travel to Belper this weekend.
In a free-scoring affair at Springfield Road, Grimsby went down 39-28 to Ashby as a total of 11 tries were scored.
The Midlands 3 East (North) clash was end-to-end throughout and defensive lapses and the Blues' inability to convert kicks at goal proved to be the difference.
Five tries were scored by the hosts, but their normally robust defence was unpicked on several occasions by a well-drilled and highly effective Ashby back line.
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After an initial score from the visiting side, experienced back rower Neil Corry displayed another, now trademark, show-and-go and danced his way to the line.
This set the pattern for the game, with Ashby scoring, building a lead, then the Blues coming back strongly.
Luke Chaplin scored the next for Grimsby after a thundering run brought him close to the line and an outstretched arm found the ball on the line for the try.
Prop Colin Matthews went close from a pick-and-go, as did Ashley Waterman.
A period of domination by the visiting side followed as the hosts took their eye off the game and Ashby racked up three well-taken tries.
Barracking runs from number eight Sam Vickers and lock Jim Livermore kept making good inroads into Ashby territory and time and again there were glimpses of what Grimsby could do.
They just needed a period of sustained possession to allow them to assume some control. This came towards the end of the game – with Ashby thinking they were home and hosed, the Blues took the final 15 minutes by the scruff of the neck.
An earlier sneaky try from flanker Mike Newman meant that they needed another score to gain a losing bonus point.
Grimsby went at their opposition as if their lives depended on it.
Mesmeric running from centre Stu Saunders gave the Blues good field position and a lovely inside pass from captain Ben Pharaoh to Newman highlighted a weakness in the Ashby defence.
Newman thundered through and drew the full-back to pop to flying winger Lewis Newsum to score his first. The Blues had got their bonus point but could sense the away side rocking.
Short, smashing carries from props Matt Pettiford and Jason Stead began to make inroads. The work was shared out with Saunders and league debutant Jacek Galewski from the backs running the hard forward lines.
A sneak down the blind side from scrum-half Ben Nutting found full-back Brad Watson. A sublime pass from him found Newsum again who outstripped the covering defenders to score.
Grimsby could sense that the game was there for the taking.
Newsum went close on two more occasions as did Watson. A quick tap penalty from Nutting found replacement Ben Stowe but strong last ditch defence from Ashby complimented their impressive running.
Ashby hung on for their lives and the clock ran out on Grimsby.
If this change of style and play had only come ten minutes earlier, the result would have been in the balance.
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