Spalding made it two wins out of two as they started life at their new Centenary Park home with a 34-6 victory over Peterborough Lions in Counties League One Midlands East (South).
There was a big build up and excited expectations to the Elephants’ first home league game at the Drain Bank North ground, welcoming the Lions, who only a few years back were riding high in National Three.
Before kick-off, players and supporters remembered Steve Machin MBE, past first team player and junior coach, together with staunch supporter Ben Runciman with a minute’s applause.
Spalding were led by captain Luke Turner with the only change from the previous week’s win at Bourne seeing young Ryan Firth came in at full back with Jack Patrick moving to outside centre due to the absence of Taylor Crowson.
Spalding kicked off and took the lead within two minutes when a ruck turnover saw a pass go to Ash Anker. He drew defenders to release left wing Gav Sharman to score in the corner.
The visitors were struggling to live with Spalding’s pace and flanker George Brown was prominent with his thrusting carries, breaking Lions tackles, putting the home team on the front foot.
Scrum half Jim Wraith started to deliver good balls to fly half Willis Ingleby, who was soon orchestrating play.
After 20 minutes, Spalding had a lineout on the right, earning a penalty. A quick tap and go saw Ingleby spot space on the left wing and his crossfield kick found Sharman to run in his second try.
Thrusts by the Lions saw George Douglas and Miguel Da Silva save the day with good tackles nearly on the try line.
However, as soon as Spalding had the ball in hand, the Lions defence looked vulnerable.
A move straight off the training ground saw inside centre Conall Mason take a crash ball, running straight through the visitors’ defence and, with him converting, Spalding, held a 17-point lead
The city side responded positively in the run up to half time and their excellent kicker converted penalties from the halfway line.
Mason was put under pressure in the second half but cleared with a towering kick.
Da Silva won the ball back, Ingleby continued the move and Mason was on hand to break through the last line of defence for a converted try.
Macaulay Crane replaced lock Da Silva as Spalding built the pressure as the Lions began to fade on an extremely hot afternoon.
Patrick, Ben Shields and Ingleby then combined a few metres short of the try, drawing a penalty. Quick thinking by Adam Sutcliffe, who had replaced scrum half Wraith, saw him take a quick tap and snipped over the try line for Spalding’s fifth try with 10 minutes remaining.
Wilson Crowson replaced winger Ben Shields but a high tackle by Crowson saw him off for a 10-minute break.
Spalding had one last trick up their sleeve.
A move down the right saw hooker Anker in space and he fended off tackles to score the final try of the afternoon
Spalding: Cowell, Anker, Turner, Douglas, Da Silva, Brown, W Shields, Worth, Wraith, Ingleby, Sharman, Mason, Patrick, B Shields, Firth. Subs: Crane, Sutcliffe, Crowson.
The first action at Centenary Park came on Friday evening when the Colts hit back from behind to beat Scunthorpe under the floodlights.
The Seconds also played at home on Saturday but came up second best against Wisbech.
