Spalding 21
Daventry 33
Daventry travelled to Spalding on Saturday being the standout team in Midlands Counties 2 East (South) League, undefeated and already promoted as champions.
However their toughest game of the season had been when Spalding played them at their ground before Christmas, losing 28-17 with two tries denied them in the second half, the story could have been so different.
From the kick-off Daventry were into their stride with their forwards and backs confident with their handling and passing and supporting players quick to the breakdown.
With six minutes played, the visitors were awarded a penalty and a good kick from distance eased them into an early lead.
However Spalding were competing and for the next 20 minutes there was no further score.
Both packs were evenly matched, with a solid front row of Richard Stevenson, Ash Anker and Luke Turner and flankers Ed Williams and Will Shields challenging Daventry at the breakdown area.
The centre pairing of Miguel Da Silva and Jack Patrick were up in the faces of their opposite numbers in defence, Stevenson was replaced midway through the first half with a knock by Jordan Templer and a few minutes later the referee reversed a penalty award due to back chat by Spalding, giving Daventry a straight forward penalty kick.
The last eight minutes of the first half saw Daventry take command of the game as they ran in three tries and rattled up a further 17 points.
The first try was a good line break by their outside centre, followed by tries out wide, first down the left corner and then out wide on the right.
Additionally, fly half Conall Mason was yellow carded for not rolling away at the breakdown, just before the half time whistle.
The opening of the second half saw Spalding fall even further behind.
Daventry secured a turnover ball at a ruck on the half way line used their backs to cut through Spalding’s defence with the right winger scoring in the corner.
Mason returned but a clearance kick was charged down on the five-metre line for a simple further try to Daventry. Shortly afterwards a trip on a Spalding player saw a yellow card for Daventry.
Then, 33 points down after 50 minutes of play, Spalding now came alive.
Ash Piccaver was winning good ball in the lineout and Anker made a break with Macauley Crane following up, crashing over the try line, converted by Mason to open their account.
The referee then showed centre Silva a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown, shortly followed by a further yellow card for Daventry.
Mason and left wing Gav Sharman then lifted Spalding spirits. Mason instead of passing out wide cut back inside, evaded a couple of tacklers and found Sharman in space, who outpaced the cover defence from 40m out to score near the posts for a converted try.
Then, with time nearly up, the same two combined again with Mason showing good pace to break through Daventry’s midfield, finding Sharman in support, who again outpaced the visitors’ defence for another converted try.
With only a couple of minutes remaining Daventry held firm for another win but Spalding with their late, late show had given the home crowd something to cheer.
Despite another loss, Spalding cling onto second place in the league, with Stewarts and Lloyd now on the same points.
Spalding have two remaining league games, away at Huntingdon next week followed by the last game away at Rushden and Higham. Spalding will need to win at least one of these remaining games to be in the hunt for promotion.
Team: Richard Stevenson, Ash Anker, Luke Turner, Macaulay Crane, Ash Piccaver, Ed Williams, Will Shields, Sam Noble, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason, Gav Sharman, Miguel Da Silva, Jack Patrick, Ben Shields, George Douglas. Subs: Jordan Templer George Brown, James Luto.
