SILEBY TOWN 16
SPALDING RFC 12
Relegation rivals Sileby Town handed Spalding RFC a 16-12 reverse on Saturday to leave Town still looking over their shoulders at the Midlands Three East (North) drop zone.
A victory would have given the Elephants a sizeable cushion over their rivals at the bottom but, despite fielding an exciting team, they couldn’t get the job done.
Making a welcome return for his first start of the season was former captain Sam Cooke at hooker.
And, with Harry Sharman and Adam McHugh also available, there was a good blend of experience and youth with scrum-half Ben Shields, and fly-half Willis Ingleby partnering up and Jordan Butcher and Harry Cole featuring in the pack.
Within minutes of the kick off Dan Adams, back at inside centre, made a typical break down the middle of the park but soon Sileby started to exert pressure helped by Spalding conceding a number of penalties at the breakdown.
Sileby kicked twice down to Town’s five metre line, but excellent line defence held the home team on the first occasion and on the second the visitors stole the lineout ball and Ingleby made an excellent clearance kick to relieve pressure.
Right winger Tom Wilson combined with Shields to make an excellent counter attack, but was tackled into touch with the try line in sight.
Shortly afterwards, another penalty conceded for offside resulted in Sileby opening the scoring with a successful kick after 20 minutes.
Town bounced straight back, winning the ball at the breakdown on the half way line and Sharman, with an intelligent grubber kick, saw Ingleby race through for the opening try and the lead.
Sileby were using a kicking game to gain territorial advantage and benefited when – not for the first time – a Spalding five-man lineout backfired and in defending their line the visitors conceded a further penalty.
A quick tap penalty caught Town unprepared and the home team’s first try was on the scoreboard.
Town were then forced to make a few changes when winger George Berry turned his ankle and the hosts capitalised as they pressed on the try line using their forwards to drive the ball.
Although Spalding defended well, Sileby duly went over for their second try.
The home team were taking control of the game and shortly before half-time Town were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and a successful penalty kick resulted in Sileby having a half time lead of 16-5.
In the second half Sileby started again through their forwards and, with a kicking game to gain territory, Spalding were finding it difficult to get into the game.
However, it was one of Town’s rising stars who provided hope, as Jordan Butcher burst through a couple of tackles in open play to force his way over the line with a 20 metre run.
With Ingleby converting, there was only a four point difference between the sides.
Spalding then upped their game and started to play at pace, with Sharman having switched with Cooke at scrum-half and the ball being moved more frequently out to the backs.
Winger Wilson was then denied with three defenders taking him out with only a couple of metres to try line.
Play was encamped in Sileby’s half for the last 15 minutes, with Ash Piccaver prominent with his line breaks.
But any opportunities were closed out by determined home defence as they battled for a home victory, which will have helped their relegation battle and perhaps sucked Spalding back into it.
Spalding RFC: Jordan Butcher, Sam Cooke, Jacob Greaves, Ash Piccaver, Pete Smith, Harry Cole, Richard Cooke, Harry Sharman, Ben Shields, Willis Ingleby, Tom Wilson, Dan Adams, Jason Steels, George Berry, Adam McHugh. Subs: John Barrett, Kev Hudson.
