17 June 2013 Lincoln University’s senior division 1 rugby team win the Christchurch Metro Hawkins Cup

For the first time in 32 years, the Lincoln University senior division 1 rugby team have won the Christchurch Metro Hawkins Cup, beating Linwood 38 to 10 on Saturday 15 June 2013, to finish first place on 41 points.

Lincoln University and Marist Albion went into the final round level on points, with both teams requiring a win, plus a bonus point to secure first place.  If both teams achieved that, then the title would be shared however Marist Albion lost their match.

This win also gave the Lincoln University side their seventh game win in a row, from 11 rounds.

Saturday’s game marked the end of the first half of the metro division 1 club rugby competition, with the teams now split into two divisions of six teams for the next stage of the season.

Game report

The conditions were good underfoot but slippery on top and the team had to battle hard against an experienced and determined Linwood side. After 10 minutes Lincoln drew first blood with a strong charge over the line to J Taufua that was converted by F Russell. With minutes remaining in the half Russell kicked a good penalty to take Lincoln out to a 10 point lead at the break.

Linwood kicked an early penalty to get then on the board but was shortly nullified when S Gammie went over for the team's second converted try. Ten minutes later Taufua went over for his second try that was converted by Russell to take the score out to 24 – 3. Linwood came back with a good try that was converted to take them to 10 points.

Russell scored a well worked try that he converted for the bonus point with 10 to go and with time nearly up Taufua scored his third for the day that Russell converted and had the Lincoln Boys winning the match and the first round of the Hawkins Cup 38 – 10.