Centenary Park was buzzing on Saturday with the first team welcoming bottom of the table Notts Moderns and on the adjoining pitch the 1923s were playing a derby game against Stamford 2nds.
Spalding 1sts took to the field on a run of eight games undefeated, looking to hunt down Loughborough University one place above in Counties 1 Midlands East (North).
Ben Shields switched to scrum half with Jim Wraith off ill, whilst Ryan Firth made a start as open side flanker with Will Shields injured, Gav Sharman returning on the wing and Charlie Beecham starting at full back.
On paper it looked a strong team with strength in depth on the bench.
The opening ten minutes had Spalding on top, but with slippery conditions under foot and inaccurate handling, the game started as a slow burner, with the Moderns’ pack proving a challenge.
Spalding worked the ball out onto the left wing and Sharman with pace rounded Moderns’ defence for an unconverted try out wide to open the scoring.
Then there was nearly half an hour of play with Spalding unable to open up Moderns’ defence as the tackles came in.
Lock Henry Hobson is becoming more dominant with every game he plays with determined carries and with George Douglas back dominating the lineouts, there was some disappointment amongst the crowd that Spalding’s creativity in the backs was bringing no reward.
With half time just around the corner, fullback Beecham joined the line and sailed through a gap in Moderns’ defence to score by the posts and fly half Willis Ingleby slotted over the conversion.
From the restart Moderns counterattacked down the wing.
Alexander Creake, with his pace, was able to catch and tackle Moderns winger, but the tackle was on the shoulder and as both teams had been previously warned by the referee a yellow card resulted.
The start of the second half saw Moderns’ frustration boil over, resulting in a big fracas between the two teams with Luke Turner retaliating after being head butted.
The retaliation was seen by the referee and Turner received a red card.
Spalding were two men down for several minutes but playing most of the second half with just 14 players.
Spalding coach Ali Sharp then emptied the bench with Miguel Da Silva slotting into the front row with Beecham off and Jordan Templer on for Firth who had had a storming 50 minutes.
Captain Ingleby then calmed everybody down as he sliced through Moderns’ defence at pace and with his conversion.
Spalding had a 19 point lead.
Within minutes lock Hobson stormed the middle of the park through Moderns’ falling apart defence, to extend the try count and lead.
Tries were now flowing Spalding’s way.
From a ruck ten metres from Moderns’ try line Templer stole through unopposed for a converted try.
Into the last ten minutes, with Moderns’ spirit down, centre Sam Booth sliced through and with Ingleby off injured and Beecham back on in his place, his conversion kick sailed through after a retake.
Moderns crossed Spalding’s try line for their solitary try but with the last play of the game number eight Jack Grundy, with a typical forceful carry, burst through a couple of tackles and sprinted away for the final of Spalding’s seven tries of the afternoon.
With a bonus point win, Spalding moved up to fourth in the league with a visit to Lincoln next Saturday.
Team: Connor Broome, Elliot Humphreys, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Henry Hobson, Ryan Firth, Jack Lambe, Jack Grundy, Ben Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Sam Booth, Jack Patrick, Alexander Creak, Charlie Beecham. Subs: Ollie Machin, Jordan Templer, Miguel Da Silva.
