BIRSTALL RFC 26
SPALDING RFC 27
Spalding RFC completed their first league double over any side in three seasons on Saturday as they clinched a bonus-point 27-26 victory at Birstall.
The Midlands Three East (North) clash went right down to the wire, with the home side camped on Town’s five-metre line in the closing stages before they were finally able to celebrate their first away win of the campaign.
Moments earlier Ashton Capes had shown his ice cool temperament to send the decisive penalty through the posts from way out wide to settle a game that saw Gav Sharman score a trio of tries and the lead change hands an amazing seven times.
It was a key victory for the Elephants, who climb up to tenth place as a result and are now nine points clear of the bottom two.
Birstall had started the match with confidence and put Spalding under pressure from the off.
A successful penalty kick and a back move from a scrum allowed them to run in a try built up an early eight-point advantage.
Gradually, Spalding worked their way into the game and a break by Ash Piccaver saw the supporting George Brown taken down off the ball.
Birstall’s outside centre was yellow carded a result.
Town took advantage of the situation and, from a secure scrum, Ben Shields started a move that saw outside centre Sharman break through the defensive line for an unconverted try.
Ten minutes later, Sharman again found some space out wide for another try that gave Spalding a two-point lead.
However, tries either side of half-time saw the hosts hit back as they looked to take control of the clash with a commanding ten-point lead.
Spalding were rocking at this stage, but Jason Steels stepped up to lead the fightback with an outstanding display of forceful running.
Not to be outdone, captain Richard Cooke burst forward from the tackle area and was stopped just shy of the try line. Harry Cole was on hand to finish off the move, though, with Capes successfully converting.
With 20 minutes remaining the red-hot Sharman ran in his hat-trick try, slicing through Birstall’s defence to crash over.
Capes again converted to give the visitors a slender one-point lead.
With conditions deteriorating during the second half, both sides were guilty of a number of handling errors.
Spalding also lost the injured George Douglas, replaced by Brian Broome, before shipping another penalty to fall behind once again.
However, there was still time for Town to be awarded something as a controversial penalty in the closing stages – which Capes duly scored to secure a rare away victory.
Town will hope to extend their winning run to three games when they welcome Buxton – one of only three teams below them in the table – to the Memorial Field on January 6 (2.15pm).
Spalding RFC: Pete Waudby, John Barrett, Jacob Greaves, Ash Piccaver, Pete Smith, Harry Cole, Richard Cooke (captain), Jason Steels, Ben Shields, Dan Adams, Ashton Capes, George Brown, Gav Sharman, Fin Peters, George Douglas. Subs: Dave McClaren, Brian Browne, George Reid.
