Spalding 1923s 70 Bourne 12
With no league fixtures on Saturday both clubs’ second teams took centre stage with the game kicking off at 1pm so players and spectators could watch the international straight after the game.
Spalding 1923s fielded a full squad with three subs for this local derby whilst Bourne had similar numbers.
The opening minutes saw Spalding dominate with lock Tom Moxon, with a forceful carry, setting the tone in the opening minute.
Shortly afterwards hooker Elliot Humphrey made a break and with a good pass to the supporting Moxon, the first try was on the score board with fly half Charlie Beecham converting.
Bourne’s strength was in the forwards and they initially had Spalding’s scrum under pressure giving home scrum half Chris Crane a few problems with his pass out to the backs. But it was going to be the Spalding backs who really shone.
Forward Ash Anker won a turnover and suddenly in broken play Beecham showed his pace and trickery for his opening try and with his own conversion kick Spalding were 14 points up, with 12 minutes on the clock.
Within two minutes Beecham again made a line break to score under the posts following a good pass by scrum half Crane.
Bourne responded with a try out wide with Spalding’s defence having gone on holiday.
With the wind in their favour helping good kicking by Beecham, Spalding mounted sustained pressure and prop Aaron Brundle crossed the try line.
In the lead up to half time centre Callum Lewis scored two outstanding tries with great pace and strength both from over 50 metres out, cutting Bourne’s backs defence to spreads, his second try greatly assisted by Miguel Da Silva, who’s strength and determination set the galloping Lewis away.
The half time score line read Spalding 30 Bourne 5.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half saw a fight back by Bourne with sustained pressure from their forwards to the fore leading to a deserved second try which was converted.
Spalding’s 1923 responded with their forwards using pick and go to gain territory and with the try line in sight there was no stopping Anker from going over with Beecham converting.
Within a couple of minutes lock forward Brandon Joselyn seized on a dropped ball, made a break and offloaded to Lewis to break tackles to go over for his hat trick.
A good kick into the corner by Beecham saw Bourne lineout ball go loose and Brundle gratefully went over from five metres out for his second try of the afternoon.
Bourne responded by kicking for territory but Beecham fielded the ball and broke down the wing to score in the corner.
Spalding’s forwards now had Bourne on the back foot with their pick and goes but good ruck defence held their line which was finally broken by lock Joselyn grabbing his second try.
During the second half, all three Spalding subs took their places in the team meaning Da Silva moving out to centre and his strength and good pass to Ollie Sorrell saw the final try of the afternoon.
During the game, lock Macaulay Crane made good ground with his carries and captain Connor Broome led from the front throughout the game assisted by the experience of scrum half Crane, whilst Moxon provided a good ball from his excellent lineout work.
Team: Connor Broome, Elliot Humphreys, Aaron Brundle, Brandon Joselyn, Tom Moxon, Ash Anker, Miguel Da Silva, Macaulay Crane, Chris Crane, Charlie Beecham, Callum Lewis, Ollie Sorrell, Tom Parker Justin Bramley, Finlay Roy. Subs: Harry Cranke, Chris Wilson, Mark Batterbee.
