Spalding 7 Peterborough Lions 14
Spalding faced a tough challenge against a Peterborough Lions team who started the game several places below the Elephants in the Counties One Midlands East (South) League.
However, they have been putting together some solid performances in recent weeks and came away with another win in challenging conditions.
The margin of victory was narrow but the visitors’ big and heavy forwards did most of the damage with drives.
First-half play saw Spalding on the defensive and they rarely got out of their own half of the pitch. By contrast, the second half saw a reversal with the Elephants taking their turn to exert similar pressure
Rain started to fall just as the game kicked off and, with an already saturated pitch and a stiff breeze, the conditions would have a major impact on the style of play.
It soon became a battle of the forwards with Lions fielding a big pack and their game plan was simply to keep the ball in the forwards. They would then make two or three yards with their carries and recycled the ball for the next carry.
Indeed, all the play for the first quarter was in Spalding’s half with the home players having to defend bravely with tackle after tackle. With good technique, the home scrum held its own and, with Lachlan Summers being called on to throw in at lineouts, lock George Douglas and Will Shields were performing well to retain possession
Winger Ben Shields received a yellow card and with a man advantage Lions worked the ball out to the wing to score a converted try.
Still Spalding were battling to get out of their half of the pitch and with all players having difficulty holding on to a wet and slippery ball, scrums were becoming fairly dominant.
Brave defence of their try line by all the Spalding players was finally broken from a quick tapped penalty kick and a strong drive for Lions’ second converted try and an interval lead of 14 points.
Douglas was replaced by Alex Worth and Sam Cowell by Miguel da Silva due to injuries. However, it was now Spalding’s turn to have the conditions mainly in their favour.
Luke Turner led the charge with Summers proving difficult to tackle and stop.
Momentum was building in Spalding’s favour and flanker Jack Grundy forced his way over the try line, with fly half Conall Mason converting
As Spalding entered the last quarter, their fitness began to count and finally they were able to move the ball along the backs but Lions’ defence held firm.
With time nearly up, Grundy looked to have another scoring opportunity but was unable to hold on to the wet and muddy ball
Lions duly came away with the win but Spalding did pick up a losing bonus point, which could be vital by the end of the season.
Spalding: Parker, Cowell, Turner, Douglas, Hobson, Grundy, W Shields, Summers, Wraith, Mason, Sharman, Patrick, Trent, B Shields, Christie. Subs: Da Silva, Machin, Worth
l The Seconds were also playing at home, on the adjoining pitch, against Thorney.
A very competitive game, again dominated by the forwards and the number of scrums, saw both teams score two converted tries for a 14-14 draw.
P W D L PD Ps
Stamford 18 16 0 2 351 81
Vipers 17 12 1 4 116 58
Towcestrians 18 9 1 8 124 55
Newbold 18 10 0 8 -62 51
Biggleswade 17 10 0 7 -7 46
Bugbrooke 16 7 1 8 28 41
Stockwood 17 6 0 11 6 35
Spalding 18 8 3 7 -7 32
Stewarts/L’s 16 6 2 8 -26 28
Old Laur’ns 18 4 1 13 -79 27
P’boro Lions 18 5 0 13 -346 26
Bourne 17 6 1 10 -98 24
Pictures by Adrian Smith.
