Gainsborough 33
Spalding 22
There were a rare trip up to Gainsborough for Spalding Rugby Club on Saturday for the NLD Plate Cup Semi Final with the home team playing in a different league.
As the two teams warmed up you could see the type of game that was likely to evolve with the home team having a bulking and formidable set of forwards.
From the kick off Gainsborough had the early pressure with Spalding’s defence led by Conall Mason and Wilson Crowson playing flankers on the day called upon to tackle the hefty Gainsborough forwards.
But Spalding weathered the early pressure and a high tackle resulted in fly half Ryan Firth kicking a good penalty between the posts for an early Spalding lead.
The first scrum of the game saw Spalding’s front row pop up under pressure and from the penalty kick the home team were level after ten minutes.
Spalding then took the game to Gainsborough as they moved the ball away from the opposition forwards and Wilson Crowson combined with left winger Gav Sharman to set him free down the wing but he was caught five metres short of the try line.
Spalding had Gainsborough pinned back defending their try line but failed to capitalise.
It was the home team who then turned on the pressure in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
First a penalty for not releasing the ball in the tackle gave Gainsborough a three-point lead.
Minutes later a scrum penalty for wheeling gave the home team a kick to touch.
From the lineout Gainsborough forwards rumbled forward with tackles coming in from captain Luke Turner and Jordan Templer and Mason won a penalty.
However back chat by Spalding saw the penalty reversed on Spalding’s five metre line andb with a dominant scrum Gainsborough’s number eight picked up to drive down the blind side to score.
The conversion gave the home team a ten-point lead. at half time.
Within the opening minutes of the first half, Templer suffered a knock to the head and was replaced by Connor Broome but within 60 seconds he was yellow carded for a high tackle.
From the scrum ten metres from Spalding’s try line, Gainsborough used their advantage well, creating an overlap to score out wide.
Now 15 points adrift, Spalding created pressure with their scrum just about holding its own.
Scrum half Jim Wraith was digging the ball out for fly half Firth to pass the ball out to the centres.
Lock Alan Charevicius, with a couple of forceful carries, took Spalding up to the try line but Gainsborough won a turnover.
However their clearance kick was charged down by Willis Ingleby, with the ball bouncing back into the in goal area, he won the race to touch down and with a conversion kick, Spalding were back in the game.
The home team now used their forwards with pick and goes, always locking the ball within their forwards, starving Spalding of any possession.
Two scrums on Spalding’s five metre line resulted in two scores and a 20-point lead with ten minutes left to play.
But Spalding still had some fight in them and Wraith fed full back Jack Patrick who with his side step and speed pulled a converted try back.
Within a minute centres Taylor Crowson and Ingleby were able to launch left winger Sharman on a 50-metre run outpacing Gainsborough defence.
Sharman then had another go but was caught and bundled into touch.
The game finished with Gainsborough kicking a penalty to secure their win.
Team: Richard Stevenson, Miguel Da Silva, Luke Turner, Macaulay Crane, Alan Charevicius, Wilson Crowson, Jordan Templer, Connal Mason, Jim Wraith, Ryan Firth, Gav Sharman, Taylor Crowson, Willis Ingleby, Callum Ferguson, Jack Patrick. Subs: Ryan Medlock, Connor Broome, Fraser, Adam Sutcliffe.
