Mansfield 19 Spalding 32
Spalding were away at old rivals Mansfield on Saturday, not having played them in the league since 2019.
With their notorious sloping pitch, teams have to build a decent lead to stand any chance of coming out winners.
With both Jack Lambe and Taylor Crowson out injured for six weeks, Lachlan Bateman made his debut on the wing, with Gav Sharman switching to centre, Henry Hoyles started at number eight and there was a welcome return for hooker Tom Rollinson.
Mansfield were given an early opportunity as the referee judged a Spalding line-out not straight, but from Spalding’s own try line Willis Ingleby produced an excellent clearance kick down the slope that gained 70 metres.
Mansfield tried to run the ball back but a good tackle shook the ball loose which Ingleby picked up and then sliced through the floundering defence for the first converted try.
Spalding, with their press defence led by the back row of Will Shields, Ryan Firth and Henry Hoyles, were not letting Mansfield escape.
A relieving kick by the home team landed in the hands of full back Charlie Beecham who immediately burst past two attempted tackles, offloaded to Ingleby to score for a 12-point lead after 15 minutes.
A big plus for Spalding was their scrum, led by the front row of Alex Newberry, Rollinson and Ash Anker who had the Mansfield scrum on the ropes several times during the game.
Likewise Spalding’s line-out was much improved with Hobson and Douglas securing good ball and later on, Firth doing well.
A high tackle by Mansfield saw a successful penalty kick by Ingleby and within another couple of minutes Sharman received a pass out on the left wing.
He left a couple of tacklers in his wake and burst through the final attempted tackle for Spalding’s third try, converted by Ingleby.
Another great opportunity came from a 50-20 kick by Ingleby for a Spalding line-out but Mansfield did well to steal the ball. At half time Spalding had a 22-point lead.
With coaches Ali Sharp and Phil Trotman involved in a car accident on the way to the game, forwards coach Zokas Raimondas was making the calls and George Douglas and Ben Shields with knocks were replaced by lock Ben Goose and wing Bailey Hudson.
The stand out in the second half was the level of determination and team work shown by Spalding to stop Mansfield’s forwards.
If they broke the first tackle there was a second Spalding player hitting hard.
It was Spalding who surprised the home team with a break by Ingleby which encamped Spalding on the home team try line.
Firth burst through but he was stopped inches short. The ball was laid back and Newberry in support drove over to score under the posts. With the conversion Spalding had extended their lead to 29 points.
Connor Broome replaced Anker in the front row and he was soon in the thick of things as Mansfield encamped themselves in front of the Spalding goal posts.
Penalty awarded, scrum ball and a flowing move along the backs saw Mansfield’s right wing score.
With their first score after 55 minutes of play Mansfield were looking for a comeback and within a few minutes they had a maul driven over the try line and with a simple conversion 14 points had been racked up within minutes.
Another drive by their forwards and a high tackle in defence by Broome saw a yellow card.
However the home team wasted their scrum as a penalty was awarded to Spalding who were able to clear their lines.
Beecham had been blocked off the ball and a Mansfield player also got a yellow card.
Spalding capitalised as they attacked down field with a great carry by centre Ollie Machin drawing a penalty and Ingleby kicked the penalty to make it 32-14 leaving Mansfield needing to score three tries for a win in the dying minutes.
They managed one further try in the last minute but Spalding ran out deserved winner 32 points to 19 claiming a five-point bonus win.
Next Saturday a home game against local rivals Bourne (ko 3pm, Centenary Park).
Team: Ash Anker, Tom Rollinson, Alex Newberry, Henry Hobson, George Douglas, Will Shields, Ryan Firth, Henry Hoyles, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Lachlan Bateman, Ollie Machin, Gav Sharman, Ben Shields, Charlie Beecham. Subs: Connor Broome, Ben Goose, Bailey Hudson.
