Spalding 31
Bourne 27
This was a much anticipated derby clash with Bourne visiting Centenary Park lying third in the league having beaten the two top university teams, with Spalding two league places lower.
Both clubs were fielding full strength teams with Spalding welcoming back Luke Turner in the front row and Alex Worth moving up to lock alongside George Douglas and in the backs Henry Duce at centre replacing unavailable Jack Patrick, with Ben Shields returning on the right wing.
The early exchanges saw Bourne fully using their forwards with dominant carries gaining territory with Spalding’s back row featuring Will Shields, Henry Hobson and Jack Grundy called into defensive action with a series of tackles.
But Bourne’s scrum half from the back of a ruck snipped down the side, weaved in and out of tackles for the opening unconverted try.
With the support of a large crowd, Spalding responded, gaining good field position inside Bourne’s twenty two.
Charges by Alex Worth and hooker Tom Rollinson and a short pass to Hobson, on the charge, saw him over the try line and with a Willis Ingleby conversion, Spalding had a narrow lead.
By now Spalding backs were passing and running at pace, scrum half Jim Wraith made a break down the right flank, passed back inside to Henry Duce, who offloaded to full back Ollie Machin bursting through and as he was tackled a pass out to Wraith, who continued to support, saw him dive over the line for a standout try.
With an Ingleby conversion going in off the upright, Spalding had a nine point lead.
Bourne’s pack had gained the upper hand and from a collapsed scrum they kicked deep for touch.
The lineout ball was long, catching everybody by surprise apart from Bourne’s prop who waltzed unopposed over the try line
Within a further five minutes Bourne’s No 8 charged through to touch down and the visitors had come back well and taken a three-point lead.
With half time approaching, prop Tom Parker sustained a leg and knee injury replaced by Elliot Humphrey.
Spalding captain Ingleby then burst through Bourne’s defence, side stepped a couple of attempted tackles at pace and was through by the posts and with a simple conversion Spalding had retaken the lead by four points as the whistle blew.
The opening ten minutes of the second half saw both teams successful with penalty kicks as the game became intense, with no team wanting to make a mistake.
Bourne’s pack in the scrum were giving Spalding a hard time but on a couple of occasions the referee came to their rescue giving penalty decisions in their favour.
Time for fresh legs as Jack Lambe replaced Will Shields and Conall Mason replaced Ben Shields.
However Ben was soon back on the field as scrum half Wraith was yellow carded for a breakdown offence.
However the momentum was with Spalding as the forwards, with pick and goes, advanced deep into Bourne territory.
Bourne initially defended their try line well but prop Turner charged through to touch down and with a good conversion from out wide by Ingleby an 11-point gap had opened.
With Wraith back on, alongside Alexander Creake and George Douglas, Spalding’s plan of seeing out the last ten minutes started to fall apart.
Spalding were on the attack but spilled the ball in contact.
A big kick downfield and it was Bourne who capitalised with a converted try.
The game became tense with Bourne on top and a tackle by Alex Worth, deemed dangerous, drew a yellow card, with just one minute on the clock.
Miracles do happen and Spalding stole Bourne’s ball.
Wraith kicked the ball dead into touch for a tense but deserved win for Spalding, who claimed a five point bonus win whilst Bourne took home two points.
This was a classic nail biting local derby.
Team: Tom Parker, Tom Rollinson, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Alex Worth, Henry Hobson, Will Shields, Jack Grundy, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Alexander Creake, Henry Duce, Sam Booth, Ben Shields, Ollie Machin. Subs: Elliot Humphrey, Conall Mason, Jack Lambe.
