Spalding 28
Stockwood Park 27
Stockwood Park from Luton arrived at Centenary Park lying in seventh place in Counties 1 Midlands East (South) league, one place below Spalding.
With the visitors looking for their first away win of the season, Spalding were fielding a strong looking team after a home victory.
Making his debut for Spalding was lock Fergus McKerracher and there was also a welcome return to Ash Anker having been side lined for a couple of weeks.
Both teams started well, being quick to the breakdown in support of the ball carrier with McKerracher immediately prominent.
Fly half Willis Ingleby spotted gaps behind the visitor’s defensive line and a good kick saw Taylor Crowson collect the ball and go over the try line.
Conall Mason’s conversion gave Spalding the lead after five minutes.
Stockwood, through their forwards, pressurised the home team in their 22 and a penalty for a high tackle by Miguel Da Silva resulted in good forward play by Stockwood to score under the posts.
The simple conversion meant it was level pegging after 12 minutes.
Three minutes later, Spalding restored the lead, gaining territory with George Douglas and Jack Grundy prominent.
Prop Sam Cowell finished off for Spalding’s second try and with a good conversion by Mason a seven point margin had been restored.
Stockwood used a penalty at the breakdown to kick for touch and with good lineout possession had Spalding on the back foot calling on good defence from the home team.
Will Shields won a turnover ball but as Spalding moved the ball forward there was crossing in front of the ball carrier and Stockwood converted the penalty kick.
Spalding were taking the game to the visitors and a penalty kick to touch saw Douglas win the lineout as the forwards drove to sett up a ruck near the try line.
Luke Turner charged over but knocked on attempting the ground.
With half time approaching, the visitors were searching for a score with Spalding defending their try line.
At a ruck, scrum half Jim Wraith won a turnover but came from an offside position and from the scrum penalty the visitors forwards went.
The conversion meant Stockwood went into half time with a three-point lead.
The early play in the second half was a mirror of the first half with Spalding on top and a good backs move put Crowson in space out wide on the left to score in the corner.
A superb conversion by Mason saw Spalding restore their lead.
But giving kickable penalties away saw Stockwood reduce Spalding’s lead to a solitary point with 30 minutes remaining.
Spalding now took the opportunity to use their bench with Gav Sharman and Reece Callaby coming on and a few minutes later Douglas was replaced due to a head injury.
Spalding had momentum turning defence into attack as they launched a counter attack through their backs.
Crowson and Ben Shields showed their pace but it was full back Jack Patrick, slicing past several defenders after good interplay who scored near the posts.
Mason’s conversion gave Spalding a vital eight point lead with eight minutes remaining
Ryan Firth came off the bench and Spalding had a simple target to kick deep and play in Stockwood’s half of the pitch.
They nearly succeeded but the visitors would not lie down and, with the final play of the game, they scored under the posts to claim their losing bonus point.
Spalding had also claimed a bonus point with four tries scored plus the vital win taking them one place up the league.
Team: Sam Cowell, Ash Anker, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Fergus McKerracher, Miguel Da Silva, Will Shields, Jack Grundy, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason , Taylor Crowson, Ben Shields, Jack Patrick, subs: Reece Callaby Gav Sharman, Ryan Firth.
