Spalding 27
Huntingdon 7
Spalding, with a hard earned, bonus point, home win over Huntingdon, have now stretched their unbeaten start to their Counties 2 Midlands East (South) league season to five consecutive wins.
Spalding are in second place in the league, two points behind leaders Daventry.
From the kick off, Spalding looked the more cohesive team, but Huntingdon defence was tight and their forwards in the scrum were looking to have the edge.
Spalding were playing the game in Huntingdon’s half, exerting pressure when prop Andy Fuller suffered a leg injury in a ruck after six minutes and Tom Parker came off the bench.
Minutes later, right winger Ben Shields had an electrifying run, but was tackled just short of the try line. Captain George Brown was on hand to crash over for the opening try.
The link between scrum half Adam Sutcliffe and fly half Conall Mason setting up the backs with some outstanding attacks, is getting better each week, and with the quarter hour approaching Mason saw left wing Callum Lewis had an ocean of space out wide. With a delightful kick, Lewis gathered the ball to run in unopposed near the corner flag for Spalding’s second try and a ten-point lead.
Huntingdon came back, with the assistance of the number of penalties conceded at the breakdown or Spalding being caught offside, giving the visitors a chance to kick for touch.
With a well drilled lineout, pressure mounted on Spalding’s defence but with openside flanker, Will Shields playing his first game of the season, Spalding had a player prepared to make tackle after tackle, closely followed by fellow forwards Miguel Da Silva and Jordan Templer.
As the visitors’ confidence grew, they were using their backs well at pace, but Brown was leading the back line, closing space down and with sound tackling also from Mason and fullback Jack Patrick, Huntingdon’s attacks were cut short.
With half time approaching outside centre Gav Sharman cut open Huntingdon’s defence and an excellent pass to Patrick, a further try was scored, extending the lead to 15 points.
Lock Alan Charevicius, making his first start of the season, was replaced by the experienced Harry Sharman.
Brown then secured Spalding’s bonus point. Lewis coming off his wing, scythed through an number of Huntingdon’s tackles, opening the way for Brown to score his second try.
Having played well George Douglas was replaced by Jacob Gedney for the last 20 minutes.
Huntingdon were fighting back, putting Spalding under pressure and a knock on by Ash Anker resulted in a yellow card.
A man down, the visitors seized their opportunity with their inside centre finding space to run through Spalding’s defence for a converted try.
Da Silva then received a yellow card for the number of team penalty infringement. Scrums had to go uncontested and Spalding held out whilst short of two players.
Lock Templer was injured and Douglas came back on with minutes remaining.
In the dying minutes, Spalding restored their control, pressing Huntingdon’s try line with a series of pick and drives, with Harry Brown prominent, having made his first start.
With a ruck secured two metres in front of the posts, Huntingdon killed the ball resulting in a penalty being awarded to Spalding on the five-metre line.
Sharman with ball in hand took a quick tap penalty, catching Huntingdon’s defence unprepared and drove through to score.Mason added a simple conversion.
Huntingdon had given Spalding their toughest game to date.
Team: Miguel Da Silva, Andy Fuller, Ash Anker, Jordan Templer, Alan Charevicius, George Douglas, Will Shields, Harry Brown, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason, Ben Shields, George Brown, Gav Sharman, Callum Lewis, Jack Patrick. Subs: Tom Parker, Jacob Gedney, Harry Sharman.
