Market Bosworth 29
Spalding RFC 19
Spalding RFC are still searching for their first win of the Midlands Two East (North) campaign after Market Bosworth made them pay the ultimate price for a string of errors on Saturday.
Town made life difficult for themselves with a series of penalties being conceded throughout the game – and if host Bosworth’s penalty kicker had been on form they would have been out of sight by half time.
However, those wasted penalties didn’t matter in the end, with the Elephants slipping to the bottom of the table with a 29-19 defeat that served as their fourth from as many league games so far this season.
The first two penalties were conceded within the opening minutes – both for not releasing – but it was not until the 13th minutes that the home team opened the score with a scrum five metres from the posts.
With Spalding’s pack going backwards, Bosworth’s number eight picked up the ball and went blind for a converted try.
Another penalty saw Bosworth kick into the corner for a lineout and a successful catch, followed by a driving maul saw them over for a second try. To make matters worse,
Ash Piccaver was yellow carded for attempting to pull the maul down.
Yet another bad penalty kick miss by Bosworth followed, again conceded by Spalding for not releasing, but shortly after a few phases of play saw them in the corner as a good offload allowed them to score a further try.
The Elephants had their moments in the first half, but wasted their opportunities.
Centre George Brown was twice penalised for hanging onto the ball once tackle when in front of the posts, while further pressure by Spalding saw them lose possession in promising positions.
At the same time, Spalding’s wide men with pace – centre Harry Harrison and wingers Gav Sharman and Adam Castle – were being starved of the ball.
Those problems culminated in Town being 17-0 down at the break.
Matters were not helped a quarter of an hour into the second half when flanker Harry Waine was harshly penalised for a swinging arm at a ruck.
By now Bosworth had given up on kicking for goal, but went for touch in the corner. However, a catch and drive from the lineout duly added another try to the home team’s tally.
To their credit, Spalding’s superior fitness and their determination to never give up saw them spring a revival.
Number eight Ryan Chappell broke down the middle with his strength and speed and fed Anker, who powered over the line with Harrison converting.
A bit of magic from Castle followed. He collected a loose ball and made a break down the left wing.
With Bosworth’s defence closing in he chipped over, collected the ball and made a long pass out to Sharman on the other wing to score a spectacular try and close the gap to ten points with ten minutes left to play.
However, it was again the penalty count that let Spalding down. Within two minutes Bosworth were pressing from the restart and Spalding were caught deliberately coming around the side of a maul and a penalty try was awarded.
But Spalding’s spirit saw them power back upfield and a series of phases in play saw Anker break a couple of tackles and crash over the line for the final converted score of the match.
It appears Town are going to struggle this season if they continue to give so many penalties away, immediately giving the opposition either a penalty kick at goal or the opportunity to kick and gaining valuable territory.
Their exit strategy in defence of running and carry ing the ball in the wrong areas instead of clearing their lines with good long clearance kicks, needs to change
However, the team is relatively young and should learn quickly, building on their team spirit which has been amply demonstrated in recent games.
Town’s next league game is at home to Matlock on October 22.
Spalding RFC: Ozz Osborne, Sam Cowell, John Barrett, Jordan Templer, Ash Piccaver, Ash Anker, Richard Cooke, Ryan Chappell (captain), Will Shields, Harry Winch, Adam Castle, George Brown, Harry Harrison, Gav Sharman, George Douglas. Subs: Jacob Hutson, Huw Sharman and Harry Waine.
