Luton 16 Spalding RFC 17
Spalding RFC found a cure for their travel sickness on Saturday as they stormed to an amazing 17-16 win over Luton in Midlands Two East (South) on Saturday.
Having gone the entirity of last season without an away win, Town have managed to secure one at the first time of asking to get their campaign off to a flying start.
Spalding fielded very similar team from last week’s clash with Huntingdon, which was abandoned very early due to a player injury, apart from the front row with second team captain Richard Stevenson starting and a welcome return of Ash Anker at hooker.
And, with scrum-half Adam Sutcliffe unavailable, Ben Shields stepped in and Jack Patrick slotted in at full-back.
However, Spalding’s start to the game was very disorganised with little teamwork or energy and, within the opening minutes, centre James Luto was penalised for crossing and the resulting kick sailed between the posts.
Town were struggling to retain possession and, with another penalty conceded, a further kick racked up another three points for Luton.
Not long after, the Elephants conceded another penalty at the tackle area and, with the referee losing patience, Ash Piccaver took a team yellow card.
Both teams were struggling to string any moves together, with Luton guilty of several forward passes.
But, at a breakdown within Spalding’s 22, Jordan Templer was penalised for a high tackle. Taking a quick tap penalty, Town were caught napping and after a couple of passes along the backs, the home team’s right winger was in for the opening try.
From the kick-off, possession was won by lock George Douglas and, from the ruck, the ball was worked along the line by fly-half Connall Mason and captain George Brown.
A final pass to Callum Lewis on the right wing put him into space and, with a side step, he was over the try line to pull five points back.
After 25 minutes, this was the first time Spalding had been beyond Luton’s ten-metre line.
With the clock ticking down towards half time, Town mounted pressure on Luton’s defence with a five-metre lineout – but with the ball was lost and the whistle went.
Coach Ali Sharpe and captain Brown roasted the players for their indiscipline, lack of cohesion and teamwork over the break.
And nothing seemed to have changed early in the second half, with a Luton penalty kick from the half way line just going past the posts.
A scrum on Town’s five-metre line then saw Sam Noble’s tackle and turnover halt Luton’s pick and drive for the try line and MaCauley Crane replaced Stevenson in the front row.
Spalding’s confidence grew as they executed a good clearance kick by Mason down the right wing from a lineout.
Three Spalding players chased down and secured possession, putting Lewis Adams clear for a 20-metre dash for the try line with only three points now between the teams.
Town were now looking the better team, with Piccaver making telling breaks and Anker using his power and strength to drive up field with Miguel Da Silva in support.
When Luton did counter attack, the cover defence was superb. But another penalty was conceded on the half way line and the hosts converted to move six points ahead.
The re-start kick saw Luton fumble possession, with the ball secured by Spalding and passes along the backs by Gav Sharman and Brown allowed Lewis to break through Luton’s tackles and touch down behind the posts.
A relatively easy conversion followed and Town had taken the lead by one point with 20 minutes remaining.
Then, with only a couple of seconds left, Town conceded a penalty at the breakdown on half way line. The kick looked to be good but struck the crossbar and rebounded into play, with Spalding defending their try line and kicking clear before the whistle blew to seal a stunning victory.
Next up are Melton Mowbray at home (3pm).
Town: Richard Stevenson, Ash Anker, Miguel Da Silva, George Douglas, Jordan Templer, Ash Piccaver, Lewis Adams, Sam Noble, Ben Shields, Connall Mason, Gav Sharman, George Brown, James Luto, Callum Lewis, Jack Patrick. Subs: MaCaulay Crane, Fabian Simpson.
