Spalding 19 Towcestrians 13
Towcestrians arrived at Centenary Park on Saturday riding high in Counties 1 Midlands East South League but returned defeated as the home side, led by acting captain Willis Ingleby held on for victory.
There was a welcome return to Spalding for Jack Grundy, after trying a move up the leagues with Hinckley.
Spalding set the pace, pinning the visitors deep in their half, however, the first quarter was nearly up before the first points came. A good pass out by scrum half Jim Wraith saw slick passing by the centres set left wing Gav Sharman on a run. A pass back inside found Ingleby in support and he sliced through to score, with Mason converting.
Towcestrians hit back with a penalty but with the first half nearly up, Spalding were again threatening the visitors’ try line with a succession of pick and goes with drives for the line by the forwards. With the defence drawn in, the ball was released for Ingleby to score his second try. A simple conversion gave the Elephants an 11-point lead at the break.
Towcestrians were more lively after the interval and closed the gap when the ball was moved swiftly along their backs to score out wide.
Spalding re-established their 11-point lead when a powerful scrum set Wraith wide and a good pass for winger Sharman saw him run in a try.
As the visitors drove forward, a strong tackle by Lachlan Summers saw a clash of heads with the Towcestrian ball carrier, resulting in Summers being dismissed.
Towestrians immediately capitalised to score an unconverted try.
Spalding mounted a professional and disciplined defence of their advantage and saw out the remaining ten minutes with full back Harry Brett, in particular, standing up to the challenge.
Spalding: Cowell, Summers, Parker, Douglas, Raimondas, Patrick, W Shields, Worth, Wraith, Ingleby, B Shields, Grundy, Mason, Sharman, Brett.
Subs: Christie, Canham, Firth.
lSpalding’s Seconds were weakened by last-minute first-team call-ups ahead of their trip to Nottingham. That led to a heavy defeat against a strong Moderns side.
Despite going down to 14 players due to injury, Spalding never gave up and Miguel da Silva and Chris Allen scored unconverted tries in the 79-10 defeat.
