Head coach Ben Williams has expressed his dismay after seeing Spalding RFC concede their Lincolnshire Senior Cup quarter-final at Scunthorpe on Saturday.
Town, who were always outsiders against National League Three MIdlands opposition, were unable to raise a side due to injury and unavailability.
A veteran of many seasons with Spalding RFC, the idea of forfeiting a game doesn’t sit right with Williams.
But he admits that times are changing in the modern game, with players now regularly booking holidays and social events during the rugby season.
“We just couldn’t raise a side,” admitted the 35-year-old. “Obviously I’m very disappointed.
“We’ve got a lot of injuries, but I guess morale wasn’t too high ahead of a game against such strong opposition, given the season we’ve had.
“In my day, you’d never dream of forfeiting a game. You’d not book holiday or get married during the rugby season, either.
“Times are changing and I guess this is rugby today.”
Williams is keen to draw a line under last weekend’s debacle and is now focused on grabbing an elusive Midlands One East win at Paviors this Saturday (3pm).
Relegated Town have lost all 22 of their league games so far this season, including a 30-21 defeat to the Nottinghamshire side at the Memorial Field back in November.
Williams is determined to help Town break their duck before the season is over – and is even ignoring doctors’ advice to take to the field himself, two months after knee surgery.
“We need to stay focused,” added the number eight. “We’ve improved in recent weeks and that momentum has to continue.
“Paviors is always a tough game. But we’ve just got to try and get that win before the end of the season.
“There will be selection problems for us again, so I’ll be playing. I’ve been advised against it, but I’ll probably see the season out and reassess then.”
