Queens 29
Spalding RFC 34
It’s now six wins from as many games for Spalding RFC in Midlands Two East (South) after a thrilling 34-29 win at Queens on Saturday.
There was a big boost for Town, who remain second in the table just behind leaders Daventry, with skipper Luke Turner back from a leg injury after 12 months out.
The game was only three minutes old when Spalding won a scrum ten metres from try line. Scrum-half Adam Sutcliffe played a snappy pass to fly-half Conall Mason, who in turn fed flanker George Brown to dive over the line and open the scoring.
However, in scoring he pulled a muscle and was replaced by James Luto for the rest of the game.
The lead did not last long, however. Queens, having kicked deep, won the lineout and a missed tackle let the home side go in front with a converted try.
But it was not long before Town responded in a similar vein. Queens had conceded a penalty and Mason, with a good deep kick to touch, gave Spalding a lineout on the five metre line.
George Douglas rose high to secure possession and a driving maul resulted in Ash Anker going over, with a good conversion kick by Mason.
The game flowed from end to end, but Queen’s levelled the score when their left wing found space out wide.
Town responded well with two tries of their own to build up some breathing space.
With good scrum ball seven metres out, Sutcliffe and Sam Noble worked an opening for left winger Callum Lewis to score a converted try.
Two minutes later from deep in their own 22, Spalding’s backs lit up the afternoon with some outstanding running and passing.
Mason started the move with a long pass to Gav Sharman, taking the ball at pace. Full-back Jack Patrick continued the move, using winger Lewis, tight along the touchline. A pass back to Patrick, as defenders closed in and another pass to Sharman allowed him to score out wide for an outstanding try.
However, from the kick-off Spalding were caught asleep, with a couple of missed tackles and Queens had responded with a try to make the half-time score 24-17 in Town’s favour.
For the majority of the second half Spalding took control of the game, with forward Miguel da Silva creating havoc with his powerful breaks, Will Shields dominating the breakdown area and lock Jordan Templer always prominent.
Within three minutes of the second half Town had been awarded a breakdown penalty and Mason kicked to touch. Five metres out, a planned lineout move saw hooker Anker with a quick throw in to Douglas and taking a return pass down the blind side channel to score in the corner.
Spalding were playing some quality rugby, winning the collisions up front with captain Turner enjoying his return. It was Noble who was next to crash over, extending their led to 17 points and what looked like a secure position.
However, Queens’ spirit and the control that their fly-half was exerting resulted in pressure building in the last quarter of the game.
As a result, Spalding were being pinned down deep in their own half having to constantly defend and it was no surprise when Queens scored out wide.
With more penalties conceded, Town’s lines were broken again to ensure that only five points separated the two teams. The hosts made a final push for a match-winning try, but Spalding held firm to secure their sixth victory of the campaign.
Spalding now have two home games, starting next Saturday with visitors Rushden and Higham on Saturday (3pm).
Town: Miguel Da Silva, Ash Anker, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Jordan Templer, Will Shields, George Brown, Sam Noble, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason, Ben Shields, Harry Hudson, Callum Lewis, Jack Patrick. Subs: Richard Stevenson, Jacob Gedney and James Luto.
