Southwell 50
Spalding RFC 5
Spalding RFC crashed back down to earth with a thud on Saturday as Southwell handed them a sobering Midlands Two East (North) defeat.
Having earned a stunning first win of the season the previous weekend, Town produced a poor performance in Nottinghamshire as they were crushed 50-5 by a home side that began the day in the bottom five.
A heavy and muddy pitch did Spalding no favours, but the manner of the defeat leaves them bottom of the table with just one win from seven matches.
It was fairly even at the start, with both teams cancelling themselves out. But that soon changed, with Southwell’s superiority in the scrum and the forwards in open play becoming a telling factor as the match developed.
Spalding did have an opportunity to steal a three-point lead after 15 minutes as the hosts were caught offside. Josh Broome failed to convert, though, and it wasn’t long before the home backs made a good break through the middle to score under the posts for a 7-0 lead.
Town did bounce back with a try of their own, with a cross-field kick by fly-half Adam McHugh chased down by winger Harry Harrison and his opposite number.
The Southwell man spilled the ball as he was tackled, however, allowing Harrison to collect the ball and crash over for an unconverted try.
It was a temporary comeback, though. With the home team winning good ball – either from their scrums or their line-outs – the Southwell half-back pair started to run the show.
Their fly-half was also producing good kicks to gain territory in the tricky conditions, while also releasing his backs who were finding space to run freely.
In quick succession the home backs scored under the posts, then the forwards established a driving maul and a penalty try was awarded. McHugh was also yellow carded – and from the kick-off
Southwell ran the ball wide. Although Harry Brown, with a desperate last ditch tackle, nearly stopped the left winger in his tracks, he was able to get over the try line.
Trailing 28-5 at the break, Spalding did not improve in the second period.
They did continue to battle valiantly in rapidly deteriorating conditions, but they couldn’t mount any kind of fightback.
In contrast, the home side ran in three more unanswered tries as they reached the 50-point mark for the first time this season.
Spalding RFC: Kier Moore, Sam Cooke (captain), John Barrett, Jordan Templer, Bruno Figueiredo, Sam Cowell, Harry Sharman, Harry Brown, Jim Williams, Adam McHugh, George Douglas, Sion Williams, George Brown, Harry Harrison, Jos Broome. Subs: Josh Caley, Will Shields and Huw Sharman.
Saturday: West Bridgford v Town (2.15pm).
