Panthers played hosts to East Retford at home at Oxcroft. Panthers started the game well and soon had the visitors under pressure. The first scrum went to Panthers and from then on the forwards produced some of their best rugby of the season. Chalkie White marshalled the pack and enabled quick good ball for scrum half Ollie Campbell to feed the back line. East Retford defended well but were unable to keep the Panther forwards at bay. The opening try came about after good forward play with Bryn Locke breaking the gain line before setting up Ivan Stevenson to touch down from two metres out. Despite the Panther back line having the ball in good scoring positions, miss -placed passes and dropped balls prevented them from capitalising. Again it was left to the forwards to add the points. With Bryn Locke and Eddie Williams dominating in the line outs, kicking the ball out meant no respite for the hard working visitors defence. From a quick tap penalty Nick McVeigh picked up and using all his formidable power crashed over. Now East Retford were continuously under the cosh but the backs still could not find a way through, birthday boy Mark Liszka broke through only to see his pass knocked on. Once again the forwards took matters into their hands. A scrum five metres out won by the Panthers and the ball picked by Chakie White to touch down. Rob Parkinson as usual kicked superbly and converted all three tries.The interval came with Panthers at ease and in front by 21 points to nil.

To use the old cliché this was a game of two haves was indeed true. Barely had the game got under way than East Retford were on the score sheet. A punt up field by the Retford Full Back, looked to all as if it was going over the dead ball line suddenly stuck in the mud and the visitors speedy Full Back sped by a Panthers flat footed defence to gather his own kick and score a converted try. Panthers soon replied and for once the backs worked well together and Ivan Stevenson finished off the move, again Parkinson converted. Panthers now had the opportunity to kill the game off but for what ever reason lost all cohesion in their play. Credit to East Retford who seized the opportunity offered and took the game to the Panthers. Their tenacity and hard work was rewarded with a well deserved try. With conditions getting worse under foot Panthers were unable to move the ball and inflict further scores. Not the best second half display by the Panthers by any means but still a worthwhile win to maintain their second place in the league table. Panthers are in league action again next week this time away at Market Rasen.

Tries: Stevenson 2, N McVeigh, White
Cons: Parkinson 4

Squad: 15 Collins, 14 Stevenson, 13 R McVeigh, 12 M Liszka, 11 Miller, 10 Parkinson, 9 Campbell, 8 White, 7 Locke, 6 Fenton, 5 N Wooliscroft, 4 E Williams, 3 Edwards, 2 N McVeigh, 1 Titley