Spalding 25 Old Laurentians 17
For the first time this season, a Counties One Midlands East (South) match involving Spalding was decided by more than five points.
Thankfully it went in favour of the hosts, after three draws, a two-point win and four and five-point defeats, they secured a win by a more comfortable margin.
George Douglas was the star for the Elephants, which was very apt, given that a minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of his mother Carol Douglas, the former sports club secretary, who passed away recently.
The Warwickshire visitors took to the field with a very young team and were lying a couple of places below Spalding in the table but from the kick-off, home confidence was apparent.
They put the rugby team under pressure with good carries by the forwards with captain Luke Turner leading the way and Locklan Summers also standing out. The first score came from a penalty kick by Ryan Firth.
The pattern of the game settled down with Spalding having a clear advantage in the scrums. Hooker Tom Rollinson consistently found Douglas in the lineout as the home team held plenty of possession. Laurentians were using their speedy players out wide to get a foothold.
Having encamped themselves on the visitors’ try line, Summers forced his way over for the opening try with Firth having an easy conversion in front of the posts. Laurentians immediately responded with a penalty.
Scrum half Jim Wraith was having the luxury of good ball at the breakdown and the scrums, to release fly half Henry Duce for the centre pairing of Conall Mason and Firth to show their skills but Laurentians were quick to close down space.
It was forwards Alex Worth and Jack Patrick making an impact with prop Sam Cowell driving over the try line to put Spalding 15-3 ahead.
A stray pass in the backs was intercepted by Laurentians’ backs for a converted try a few minutes before half-time but before the whistle could be blown Spalding were back up field bashing away as Laurentians defended their try line and Summers drove over for his second try.
The second half saw the visitors more in the game, using the pace of their young players to challenge Spalding’s defence with full back Harry Brett being called upon, making good defensive tackles.
The pressure was mounting and a penalty kick to touch in Spalding’s 22 saw a good break and an off load to Laurentians’ excellent scrum half to score between the posts. A simple conversion saw the visitors just three points adrift and sniffing a comeback.
Spalding coaches made changes with forwards Jordan Templer and Zokas Raimondas coming off the bench and later back Sam Christie.
Laurentians were in constant retreat in the scrums, bringing the reward of a string of penalties awarded. With ten minutes remaining a penalty kick to touch saw Worth secure possession at the lineout and a driving maul edged towards the try line with the experienced George Brown driving over for the bonus point try to and ease Spalding into an eight-point advantage.
Elephants: Cowell, Rollinson, Turner, Douglas, Worth, Brown, Patrick, Summers Wraith, Duce, B Shields, Mason, Firth, Sharman, Brett. Subs: Templer, Raimondas, Christie.
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
