SPALDING RFC 14
NOTTINGHAM MODERNS 17
Struggling Spalding RFC produced an uninspiring performance on Saturday as they became the first Midlands Three East (North) side to lose to Nottingham Moderns this season.
Town, who were playing Midlands One East rugby as recently as 2015, lost 17-14 to the basement boys at the Memorial Field to seemingly suck them into another relegation battle.
The opening quarter of the match saw Spalding looking to gain superiority through the forwards – and the early indications were promising, with a strong scrum allowing options for either Jason
Steels, at number eight, to pick and break with the ball or Will Shields to pass comfortably out to fly-half Willis Ingleby.
Moderns were forced into a series of defensive tackles and early on the opposition scrum-half was shown a yellow card for not rolling away.
Boasting a numerical advantage, the Elephants went looking for the opening try.
A further penalty was awarded ten metres from the try line and, with quick thinking, Shields took a tap penalty and forced himself over the line with Ingleby converting.
With numbers restored, Moderns stepped up their game and looked to move the ball along their backs as they made inroads deep inside Spalding’s half. A missed tackle then allowed their outside centre to glide in for an unconverted try.
Minutes later a move orchestrated by fly-half Ingleby with his fellow backs went horribly wrong as, Moderns pressed up and intercepted an intended pass to score under the post for a converted try – and suddenly the visitors had a five-point lead.
It got worse when Spalding captain Richard Cooke took a knock and and was forced off for treatment, meaning George Berry came on.
At this point Spalding were starting to lose their structure and team play.
Steels and Ash Piccaver were making breaks with their forward play, but too often these were in isolation with no support to clear out at the tackle area and the ball ending up being turned over.
Spalding’s lineout was also starting to misfire, losing their first phase possession.
But, with the half-time whistle being blown, it was an opportunity for the team to talk and to regroup.
Immediately from the restart Spalding stepped up their pace and commitment and were soon threatening Moderns try line. Cooke dived over the line from a ruck, with Ingleby converting to give his side a two-point lead.
Moderns were, however, also running confidently with the ball. Using their pace, they exposed Spalding with winger Gav Sharman being left to defend a two on one and the away winger scored in the corner.
Now with a three point deficit, Town had well over 20 minutes to turn the match around – but the reality was that they never really looked up to the job.
By now, Spalding’s scrum was well on top but they could not turn this to their advantage, as Moderns were kicking well out of defence.
With George Brown on for Tom Wilson, both Spalding centres Brown and Dan Adams become fixated with crash ball moves, invariably taking the ball back inside into the laps of the away defence, instead of looking for space and support on the outside.
Both Sharman and Ashton Capes, who have got pace to burn, rarely received a pass – even with Adam McHugh bursting into the line to create an extra man in the latter stages.
Whether Spalding thought all they had to do was to turn up against the bottom team to chalk up a win they were taught a hard lesson on the day.
They will need to considerably improve if they wish to climb away from the drop zone and avoid a third relegation in four years.
They visit Sleaford this Saturday (3pm).
Spalding RFC: Kev Hudson, John Barrett, Jacob Greaves, Luke Turner, Ash Piccaver, Harry Cole, Richard Cooke (captain), Jason Steels, Will Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, Tom Wilson, Ashton Capes, Adam McHugh. Subs: George Berry, George Brown and Fin Peters
