This was the last warm up game for Spalding before the season starts on Saturday when Southwell travel to Centenary Park.
Wisbech were the visitors, having been fierce rivals in the past, the clubs have not played each other for more than a decade, being in separate sections of the RFU league structure.
Fielding a relatively strong starting team Spalding were caught cold as Wisbech opened the scoring with an unconverted try after three minutes. But there was an immediate response as captain Willis Ingleby sliced through the visitors’ defence leaving them cold footed, scoring under the posts and with a simple conversion, Spalding had the lead and they never looked back.
Before the first 20-minute break, good play by flanker Will Shields set up a converted try for Charlie Beecham and then Ingleby helped himself to a second try, burning up Wisbech’s defence through sheer pace and with a 40-metre conversion kick Spalding had started to show their class.
Spalding were trying out Ollie Machin at outside centre, previously a full back, and showed he has developed pace and strength and a superb individual try was on the scoreboard followed by Henry Hoyles on his debut with a short in-out break to dive over the try line and at half time score was 28-5.
Spalding coaches made five changes bringing on the remaining squad players but it was Wisbech who capitalised with a strong charge by their number eight breaking tackles for a converted try.
The sheer pace of Spalding’s flanker Jack Lambe saw him break clear to score a fine try in the corner with George Brown having made the assist.
Further player changes were made by Spalding and again Wisbech took advantage with a converted try.
An excellent restart by fly-half Beecham saw Lambe bursting through Wisbech’s 22 chasing the ball only to be pushed in the back.
With a certain try beckoning the referee awarded a penalty try.
Lambe followed up with a further try under the posts and was replaced, for a rest, with Finn Roy back on.
The final 20-minute break was taken and with play resuming, it was Wisbech initially who were challenging Spalding’s defence but from inside his own half Spalding’s left winger, Adam Foster, made a break and outpaced the visitors’ defence to score out wide.
To finish off the afternoon Sam Christie burst through a couple of tackles and used his pace to score a converted try under the posts.
Wisbech nearly had the last try of the afternoon but a great cover tackle by Tom Parker-McGee saved the day
It was also a great debut performance by lock Ben Goose who was called up from the 1923s and did not look out of place in the first team, playing the whole 80 minutes and added his strength to the scrums.
Alex Newbury also showed at prop that he will add strength and power to the front row.
Team: Alex Newbury, Elliot Humphreys, Ash Anker, Henry Hoyles, Ben Goose, Finn Roy, Will shields, Jack Lambe, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Adam Foster, Ollie Machin, Taylor Crowson, Sam Christie, Charlie Beecham Ryan Medlock, George Brown, Tom Parker-Mcgee, Ollie Sorrell, Bailey Hudson.
