Towcestrians 15 Spalding 22
Despite being reduced to only 14 players, Spalding put on their best performance of the season away at third-placed Towcestrians.
Ben Shields received a second yellow card after 25 minutes and then in a tight last ten minutes Spalding went down a further player with Jordan Templer yellow carded.
The opening few minutes were not promising, with Spalding penalised for a series of offences at the breakdown, offside and a high tackle and with just three minutes on the clock a successful penalty kick had the home side three points in the lead.
Spalding responded with good attacking rugby. Lachlan Summers and Luke Turner were prominent with their carries, finished off by Willis Ingleby putting in a grubber kick for centre Conall Mason just failing to touch down.
Winger Shields with a tackle on the shoulder, was judged by the referee serious enough for a yellow card. Towcestrians failed to take advantage of their extra man as Spalding defended well, with fullback Henry Duce making several good tackles.
However with 25 minutes played, a break by Towcestrians down the left saw another intervention by Shields with the slightest contact on the home winger, which drew a second yellow leaving Spalding a man down for the rest of the game.
The home team took immediate advantage as their winger scored for an eight-point advantage.
Spalding regrouped and then scored the try of the season. From just inside their 22, Ingleby spotted winger Sam Christie was in open space. A high cross kick followed and Christie caught the ball high above his head, left the first defender behind and then outpaced Towcestrians’ cover defence from 60 metres to touch down, and with a good conversion by Mason, Spalding were one point adrift.
Just before half time Towcestrians also lost a man to a yellow card for a high tackle.
Spalding were playing with great team spirit, being aggressive with their tackling, scrums were going well and Harry Brett, at the front of the lineout, was not only winning good Spalding possession for scrum half Jim Wraith, but also nicked Towcestrians’ possession a few times.
Forwards Templer and Henry Hobson bashed their way upfield with carries, hooker Tom Rollinson was in the mix as Spalding drove towards the try line, and Summers finished off with an unstoppable drive and with Mason converting, Spalding had a six-point lead.
Towcestrians responded immediately thanks to a penalty kick to touch five metres from Spalding’s try line but the throw in was crooked and a clearance kick saved the day.
Spalding were back on the attack, catching the home side’s backs offside with Mason slotting over a penalty kick from distance for a nine-point lead.
Coaches Ali Sharp and Phil Trotman started to use the bench. Miguel da Silva had earlier replaced Tomas Parker, who came back on, and Callum Lewis replaced Christie.
Spalding were taking the game to Towcestrians and when the home side did have possession they were immediately tackled with Jack Patrick making some devastating interventions.
Spalding were then handed a blow with Templer yellow carded for a high tackle, taking them down to 13 players.
Towcestrians capitalised thanks to a deep penalty kick to touch followed by a converted try to narrow Spalding’s lead to two points.
From the kick off George Douglas secured the high ball and Spalding launched their attack with the forwards making carries down the middle.
Wraith, with his excellent passing, whipped the ball from the breakdown to the backs, and centre Mason, with an great pass, found Ryan Firth, on from the subs bench, on the left wing who sprinted over the try line with a dive in the corner for the final unconverted try.
Towcestrians had ten seconds on the restart, but Spalding secured the ball and duly kicked it dead for an outstanding win.
The determination and teamwork was outstanding and the four-point win moves Spalding up one place to seventh with only three games remaining.
Next Saturday Spalding entertain league leaders Stamford at Centenary Park, 3pm.
Team: Tomas Parker, Tom Rollinson, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, George Douglas, Henry Hobson, Harry Brett, Lachlan Summers, Jim Wrath, Willis Ingleby, Ben Shields, Conall Mason, Jack Patrick, Sam Christie, Henry Duce. Subs: Miguel Da Silva, Callum Lewis, Ryan Firth.
Pictures by JOHN CONSTABLE.
