Oakham 22
Spalding 25
With the Christmas and New Year break and no training in the run up to Saturday’s game with pitches waterlogged, Spalding travelled over to Oakham slightly under cooked for a game they would have targeted as a potential away win.
Captain Luke Turner was delighted to see Oakham’s pitch looking good and firm and from the kick off Spalding took the game to the opposition.
A penalty kick to touch saw Will Shields win the line out ball and a swift flowing move along the backs drew a high tackle penalised by the referee and Conall Mason stepped up to put Spalding three points in the lead.
The home team upped their game and Spalding backs were caught offside at a scrum.
Pressure was mounting as Oakham moved the ball wide and a knock on from Gav Sharman drew a yellow card.
Oakham kicked the penalty to touch on the five metre line. With the ball secured the home team’s forwards broke Spalding defence and with a conversion took the lead by four points.
Spalding’s scrums were going well and the players’ discipline at the breakdown was also good throughout the game cutting down penalties and territory given away in games before Christmas.
Another plus for Spalding was the improved clearance kicking by fly half Willis Ingleby, and from one such kick Spalding’s backs chased down, and centre Jack Patrick’s tackle on Oakham’s five metre line resulted in a scrum penalty.
The ball was moved to the right wing for Ben Shields to score in the corner.
The attacking momentum was maintained pinning Oakham back in their 22 and the forwards with Sam Cowell and Miguel Da Silva breaking the first tackle with good carries.
With Oakham on the back foot, scrum half Adam Sutcliffe’s pass from the break down found the backs in space and Mason, with a long pass, set wing Sharman free to score out wide and with an excellent conversion by Mason, Spalding had built an eight-point advantage at half time.
With the restart the home team immediately put pressure on Spalding with a kick to touch and with a line out possession won, Spalding’s defence held firm as Oakham tried to force their way through.
A good tackle by Fergus McKerracher forced a knock on and pressure was released.
But it was not long before the home team drew a penalty for a Spalding player not rolling away at the ruck and a simple kick lifted Oakham.
The home team were now on top and a kick from Ingleby gave possession away in Spalding’s half.
The ball was moved swiftly along their backs and the forwards in support were over the try line.
Within a few minutes Oakham had exposed Spalding’s defence to score a try down the wing, and with a good conversion they had a seven-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Spalding upped their game and started to play with more conviction.
Lock Macaulay Crane and Turner, with big carries, established field position and a kick chase down the right wing saw an Oakham defender fumble the ball and James Luto was over the try line in a flash.
Time was nearly up, Spalding were again on the attack with the forwards making gaining.
Oakham desperately defending were leaving space out wide.
Ingleby, seeing Sharman on the left wing put a delightful kick in, gathered by Sharman who evaded Oakham’s defenders to score in the corner and although Mason’s conversion kick just fell short.
The referee immediately blew for full time and Spalding had a dramatic win in the dying minutes.
Team: Tom Parker, George Brown, Luke Turner, Miguel Da Silva, Macaley Crane, Fergus McKerracher, Will Shields, Sam Cowell, Adam Sutcliffe, Willis Ingleby, Ben Shields, Conall Mason, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Ryan Firth. Subs: Alex Worth, Taylor Crowson, James Luto.
lNext Saturday, Spalding entertain table toppers Daventry, the league leaders, at Centenary Park, Drain Bank North, Spalding, kick off at 2.15pm.
This should be an excellent game with good quality rugby played.
Last season when both teams were promoted from Midland Counties 2 East (South), Spalding were the only team to take a point away from Daventry.
lSpalding’s second team played Horncastle 1st away in the NLD Merit League and although Spalding had a dominant scrum, once Horncastle were able to release their backs they came out winners by 50-19.
Meanwhile The Colts played away on Friday evening at Kesteven.
These are two of the best Colts teams in NLD but on this occasion Kesteven came out on top with a narrow 10-9 win with James Holland converting three penalties
