Spalding RFC 32
Newark RUFC 29
Returning duo Taylor Crowson and Harry Sharman made key contributions as Spalding RFC launched an amazing second-half comeback to secure their first Midlands Two East (North) victory of the season on Saturday.
Basement boys Town were trailing high-flying Newark 22-5 at the break, but Crowson scored a try treble and Sharman kicked a last-gasp penalty as the hosts ran in 27 points in the second period to earn an elusive league win at the seventh time of asking.
The Elephants remain bottom after the triumph, which also saw Will Shields and Adam McHugh cross the whitewash, but are now within touching distance of the sides above them.
Spalding last played Newark two seasons ago when both teams were in Midlands One (East). But, with the visitors also being relegated to Midlands Two, old rivalries resumed.
Town’s preparations in the warm-up were thrown into disarray with number eight Ryan Chappell pulling up with a calf injury. As a result Harry Brown, himself still carrying an injury, came off the bench and Richard Cooke was recalled.
But it was the returns of Crowson, from Stamford College Old Boys and ex-skipper Sharman, which proved key.
As soon as the whistle sounded the visitors were soon into their stride and missed a penalty opportunity.
That was swiftly followed by their centre running strongly through weak tackling for a converted try.
Spalding’s start was slow and riddled with handing errors and Newark’s forwards were next creating a platform for their prop to go over.
That, together with a penalty, saw the visitors establish a healthy 17-point lead after 20 minutes.
The Elephants, meanwhile, struggled to cope in the blustery conditions with passes going astray and lineout possession suffering.
But – out of nowhere from a scrum under pressure on Newark’s 22 metre line – Brown picked up at the base, broke the initial defensive tackle and fed scrum half Shields who finished off the move with a good score. McHugh’s conversion went wide, but Town were up and running at last.
Newark’s lock then received a yellow card, but Spalding failed to capitalise on the one-man advantage and conceded a third try with the last play of the first half to fall 17 points adrift at the interval.
Spalding needed an early score in the second half if they were to get anything out of this game – and it duly arrived after five minutes of play. The forwards combined to drive the ball up field and Jason Steels broke, gaining ten metres before offloading to Brown, who gave a short pass to Crowson.
He did the rest, flying in at speed to go over the line for his first try of the afternoon.
Before Newark could recover from this shock, McHugh received a well weighted pass from Harry Winch, which put him into a hole between Newark’s centres 40 metres out.
A swerve saw him past the next defensive tackle and under the posts for a try that he converted himself to cut the gap to five points.
Inspired, Crowson then imposed himself on the game as he tore Newark’s defence apart with his speed and agility with two further outstanding tries within a six-minute spell of running rugby.
Spalding’s backrow of Steels, Brown and Sharman all had a hand in the tries as they broke with speed from the base of firstly a scrum then a ruck drawing Newark’s defence.
On both occasions, Crowson still had 40 metres to cover to the try line, but he was not to be stopped.
The conversions missed, but suddenly the home team had a seven-point lead with 20 minutes remaining.
To Newark’s credit they came battling back. Using their powerful scrum to good effect and within Spalding’s 22 metres, they started to win a succession of penalties.
The pressure told as McHugh went off his feet while competing for the ball at a ruck and the yellow card came out. It was now scrum time and as Newark edged towards the try line – and a penalty try was conceded, levelling the scores with eight minutes to play.
Spalding went hunting for the win with the visitors tiring and it was their turn to concede kickable penalties.
First Harry Winch stepped up with McHugh absent and his kick sailed wide. Then, with just about the last play of the match Newark infringed again and this time
Sharman stepped up and successfully slotted the ball over to clinch a momentous win that could kick-start their season.
Spalding RFC: John Barrett, Sam Cowell, Mikey Watts, Mark Haighton, Tom Deurden, Harry Sharman, Jason Steels, Harry Brown, Will Shields, Taylor Crowson, Huw Sharman, Harry Winch, Adam McHugh, Gav Sharman. Subs: Gareth Osborne, Kieran Lake and Richard Cooke.
