Spalding 35 Bourne 3
This was a simply stunning performance by Spalding at home in their local derby game against Bourne.
Last week they suffered a shock defeat at home to Stockwood Park in stormy conditions but following two good midweek training sessions, Spalding’s game stepped up a number of levels with all aspects of their game working in tandem.
But it was Bourne who shone brightly in the first 15 minutes using their strong running centres to crash the ball up followed by good support from their forwards.
Spalding’s tackle defence, with centres Conall Mason and Jack Patrick having to stand up to a battering, were well supported by flankers Will Shields and Lachlan Summers.
After five minutes Bourne took the lead with a penalty kick and that was the end of Bourne’s scoring for the afternoon.
Steadily Spalding absorbed Bourne’s enthusiasm and with a penalty kick from 35 yards Mason slotted to draw level.
The forwards, with hooker Miguel Da Silva having returned to the side and Raimondas Zokas returning at lock together with Summers back in the pack, were holding their own against Bourne’s strong set of forwards.
Well into the first half Spalding were now using their possession with purpose, bringing their backs into play at pace, forcing Bourne onto the back foot and left winger Gav Sharman evaded a number of tackles to score a good try and, with a Mason conversion, Spalding took the lead.
From the kick off Spalding’s game flowed with the forwards and backs producing excellent interplay and good carries by props Sam Cowell and Luke Turner forced Bourne to defend their try line.
Miguel Da Silva twisted and turned and forced his way over near the corner and with a good conversion the lead was now 12 points, which was extended by a further penalty kick just before half time.
The visitors needed to come back out fighting to get back into the game and the opening few minutes of the second half saw them again trying to use their centres, cutting back inside at pace to gain territory.
However lock George Douglas cut a pass inside his own half, evaded a couple of tackles with his pace, made 40 metres and then released fly half Willis Ingleby in support with a pass back inside, whose pace took him under the posts to score a converted try.
Spalding’s interplay between the forwards and the backs running at pace was stretch Bourne’s defence to breaking point.
Right wing Ben Shields had a couple of decent runs and Harry Brett, back at fullback, was rarely troubled in the second half but it was Ingleby diving over in the corner who secured the try bonus point with 30 minutes still to play.
Coach Ali Sharp now used his bench with Ryan Firth on for Ben Shields and Douglas off with Henry Duce on.
Very shortly afterwards Bourne lost a player to a red card with Spalding’s Jim Wraith also going off with a yellow card.
Spalding were in full flow with Patrick causing problems with his tricky runs and Jack Grundy continuing his good work from number eight, always gaining valuable territory with his runs and carries despite tacklers coming in setting up good ruck possession.
But it was Ingleby who finished off a move across the pitch, scoring in the far left corner, and with no further score Spalding had shown that they were back to their best before they travel to Bugbrooke next Saturday.
Team: Sam Cowell, Miguel Da Silva, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Raimondas Zokas, Lachlan Summers, Will Shields, Jack Grundy, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Ben Shields, Conall Mason, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Harry Brett. Subs: Tom Parker, Henry Duce, Ryan Firth.
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
