Spalding RFC 0
Melbourne RFC 46
Two sides seemingly going in opposite directions clashed on Saturday as relegation-threatened Spalding RFC were soundly beaten 46-0 by Midlands Two East (North) champions elect Melbourne at the Memorial Field.
Despite putting in an admirable battling performance, it’s now 14 losses from 15 league games for Town – who are 20 points from safety with just seven games remaining.
Melbourne, meanwhile, are a healthy 14 points clear at the top and looking odds-on to gain both promotion and the league title.
Optimism was high that Spalding could spring an unexpected surprise and take on the visitors at their own game – being good in the scrum but even better in the backs – to come away with valuable league points.
But it took just six minutes for Melbourne to show they meant business. They swiftly passed the ball along the line and scored through their outside centre and, with a good conversion, the scoreboard came into action for a seven-point lead.
Left wing Gav Sharman, then took a knock while tackling, forcing him to depart from the field for treatment
Early on both scrum halves were showing that they would be key to the day, with the Melbourne player taking the honours ahead of Will Shields.
If fact, the Melbourne scrum half was instrumental in nearly all of the visitors’ good moves with his quick passing and thinking, whether from the scrum, lineout, breakdown or even quick tap penalties, the intention was clear to run and pass the ball at pace.
By the beginning of the second quarter – and with a 14-0 lead – Melbourne were starting to find that Spalding’s defence was proving difficult to beat with some excellent tackling around the fringes and stopping their centre on crash ball moves. In doing so, Adam McHugh took a nasty blow to his face and departed, with Sharman returning.
However, Spalding were struggling to create anything off their own ball as the first half drew to a close Melbourne, with Ash Piccaver picking up a yellow card for pulling down a driving maul as it approached Spalding’s try line, added two further tries to lead 22-0 at the break.
With Piccaver back on the pitch, both he and Tom Duerden were showing how to carry the ball strongly in open play, gaining valuable distance.
Additionally – and perhaps for the first time this season – Spalding’s scrum gained some superiority with Melbourne on the retreat. But Spalding were unable to use this to any real advantage.
The lack of confidence was illustrated when Town’s scrum from five metres out were edging forward and, instead of using their superiority to go over, picked the ball and tried to drive over – only to be held up and conceding a turnover.
Towards the end Melbourne were full of running, with firstly their scrum half breaking free down the right hand side to score, followed by their left winger outpacing Spalding’s cover defence from the halfway line
Although Town battled well throughout the game, they could not stop the league leaders in their tracks, meaning another nail has gone in their coffin.
This Saturday sees Spalding visit Matlock (2.15pm) for their game in hand. Defeat there would all but seal their fate.
Matlock are currently fifth in the table and are unbeaten in their last three outings.
Spalding RFC: Mikey Watts, Josh Caley, John Barrett, Luke Turner, Harry Brown, Tom Duerden, Ash Piccaver, Jason Steels, Will Shields, Harry Winch, Gav Sharman, Ben Williamson, Taylor Crowson, George Douglas, Adam McHugh. Subs: Pete Waudby, George Brown and Harry Waine.
