SPALDING RFC 38
GRIMSBY RFC 21
Gav Sharman ran in a hat-trick of tries as Spalding RFC recorded back-to-back wins in Midlands Three East (North) by beating Grimsby 38-21 on Saturday.
There was a brace of tries for Willis Ingleby and an interception try by Tom Wilson to round off the rout for Town at the Memorial Field, as they produced a display of running rugby that the visitors couldn’t handle.
However, the game was a tale of two halves with the visitors looking the better team for 35 minutes of the first half.
Early on Spalding were exposed, with breaks out wide from support runners and only excellent cover tackles by full-back George Douglas and left winger Sharman saved the day.
With few changes from last week, George Freeman was making his debut in the front row and Taylor Crowson made his first start of the season at outside centre, with John Barrett also starting at hooker
Spalding’s unity and determination was being well tested, as Grimsby encamped themselves on their five metre line with tackle after tackle stopping the visitors scoring.
During this period Town’s scrum was gaining an upper hand, while Ash Piccaver worked well in the lineout all afternoon, stealing the opposition ball on three occasions
Grimsby missed a long range penalty to open the scoring with just five minutes of the first half remaining and, shortly afterwards Douglas – with an up and under kick ahead – was taken out late, with the Grimsby player being yellow carded
Spalding immediately took advantage, with the forwards, led by Jason Steels and Ash Anker, driving upfield and making headway.
From the breakdown, scrum-half Richard Cooke swiftly passed the ball out to the backs and Sharman outpaced Grimsby’s weakened defence for the opening try. Fly-half Ingleby converted.
Then, in injury time, Town created a gap in the away defence and Ingleby seized on the opportunity, bursting through for his opening try to put his side 12 points to the good.
At this point, Grimsby were certainly not out of the game and, after ten minutes, a 25 metre break, saw them open their account with a converted try.
But Spalding’s response was immediate. With the ball breaking loose deep in enemy territory, a pick up saw Ingleby run through to collect his second try.
The game was now swinging from end-to-end, with play becoming more open and it was Grimsby’s turn to score in the corner. And, with an excellent conversion, the margin was down to just five points.
Spalding responded by taking a grip on the game and, as Grimsby tried to pass their way out of defence, sub Tom Wilson made a one-handed interception, controlled the ball and sailed in for a converted try.
With Freeman and Ankar off with knocks, Will Shields came on at scrum-half and George Berry at lock, with Town strengthening their control.
Piccaver broke through two tackles, gained 40 metres and – as the final tackles came in – offloaded to Sharman to run in his third try of the afternoon.
But Grimsby stole the final try of the day as the referee blew the whistle
This was an afternoon when Spalding discovered the untapped ability in their young backs to win games, whilst the forwards pack took control up front.
Also an outstanding feature was their defence in the first half when under sustained pressure from Grimsby.
The team should now take confidence from this performance ahead of Saturday’s derby trip to Kesteven (3pm).
Spalding RFC: Kev Hudson, John Barrett, George Freeman, Luke Turner, Ash Piccaver, Ash Anker, Jason Steels, Harry Brown, Richard Cooke (captain), Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, Taylor Crowson, Ashton Capes, George Douglas. Subs Will Shields, George Berry and Tom Wilson.
