Market Bosworth 44
Spalding RFC 7
It was very much a case of déjà vu for Spalding RFC on Saturday as they suffered an all too familiar 44-7 defeat at high-flying Midlands Two East (North) high-fliers Market Bosworth.
Just like in their last away game at table-topping Dronfield, Town’s solid first-half showing counted for little as belligerent Bosworth ran in a host of late scores to give the scoreline a severe look.
The Elephants remain in the bottom two as a result – and are still searching for an elusive away win as they enter the home stretch of their season.
With James West injured and Adam McHugh unavailable, Josh Broome moved up from full-back to fly-half, with Ed Booth retaining the full-back position after impressing as a substitute last week.
Kieran Lake started on the right wing too, with Christopher Eggleton at left wing and Keir Moore in the front row.
Despite the changes, Town’s team looked relatively strong on paper.
On a rather sticky pitch the match started at a good tempo as both teams testing each other out. Hosts Bosworth had a slight upper hand with a good lineout and a solid pack.
Unfortunately for Town, Sion Williams – who has put in some excellent performances at inside centre – pulled a calf muscle. The backs were reshuffled, with Lake moving into the centres and
Brian Browne off the subs bench at right wing.
Shortly afterwards Bosworth opened their account with a try, but Town responded well.
The back row of Ash Anker, Ryan Chappell and Ash Piccaver worked the ball down the left-hand side and Bosworth conceding a penalty. A good Spalding lineout and a driving maul was illegally stopped and another lineout followed with a similar result.
Unfortunately the third lineout was lost, which illustrated Town’s failure to execute and capitalise on their opportunities on the day.
Bosworth came back and it was Town’s turn to give a penalty away, just a couple of metres from the try line.
The referee allowed the penalty from that position, instead of from the five-metre line, and a quick tap penalty caught Spalding’s defence napping.
Undeterred, Town pushed downfield to try to get on the scoreboard. Ash Piccaver gained territory with a charging run and went to ground – only to be stamped on by a Bosworth player.Piccaver retaliated and both players were red carded.
At half time Town were unlucky to be 10-0 adrift.
The second half was a different story, as Spalding struggled to get out of their own half with Bosworth’s scrum half starting to spray the ball around.
A couple of tries followed quickly on both wings.
One of the few counterattacks by Town was led by Broome, who was having a deeply uncomfortable time at fly-half.
He broke with speed down the middle, releasing Harry Harrison to score under the posts. Broome duly converted.
Harry Brown and Jordan Templer both came off the bench with Ed Booth and Ryan Chappell sustaining knocks, but Bosworth turned the screws in the last ten minutes, with three tries to secure a good home win and leave Spalding one place off the bottom.
Spalding RFC: Pete Waudby, Sam Cooke, Keir Moore, Tim Waltham, Mikey Watts, Ash Piccaver, Ryan Chappell, Ash Anker, Will Shields, Josh Broome, Chris Eggleton, Sion Williams, Harry Harrison, Kieran Lake, Ed Booth. Subs: Brian Browne, Harry Brown and Jordan Templer.
