Spalding RFC’s winless start to life back in Midlands One East continued with a 22-16 home defeat to high-flying Ilkeston on Saturday – but there is plenty of room for optimism.
Producing a performance labelled “outstanding” by injured skipper Harry Sharman, Spalding were always in the game thanks to tries from Pete Waudby and Ben Williams, plus two early penalties from Dan Mackie.
And Town, who have now lost three home games on the spin, did at least register their first point of the campaign by virtue of a losing bonus point.
It doesn’t get any easier for them, though, as they visit leaders Kettering next Saturday.
See next week’s Spalding and South Holland Voice for a full report, reaction and weekend preview.
Results
Midlands One East: Bedford Athletic 49 Huntingdon & District 3; Belgrave 19 Derby 23; Newark 22 Market Rasen & Louth 40; Old Northamptonians 109 Mansfield 3; Paviors 17 Kettering 29; Spalding 16 Ilkeston 22; Syston 20 Bugbrooke 39.
