ASHBY RFC 43
SPALDING RFC 13
Spalding RFC’s future in Midlands Three East (North) is still up in the air after a sound 43-13 beating at Ashby on Saturday.
With three teams expected to go down, Town can still be overtaken by three of the four sides below in the standings if they fail to beat eighth-placed Belper in their final game of the season at the Memorial Field on Saturday (3pm).
The game at Ashby, who have already been promoted, was always going to be tough.
However, a surprise appearance by past captain Peter Shakespeare in the back row boosted the Spalding squad, together with another former skipper, Sam Cooke, featuring on the bench.
And with youngster Conall Mason coming in at full-back, there was a good mixture of experience and youth in the Elephants’ side.
As Ashby took to the field they had three players in their pack well over six feet tall – and the first few phases of play soon showed that they were a well-drilled outfit.
But Spalding were up for the challenge, with the defence looking well organised. However, with eight minutes on the clock the home team had a scrum out wide.
With the ball secured, their number eight went blind and fed the right winger, who cut back inside to score a converted try.
Spalding were containing the home team with disciplined teamwork and excellent tackling and, with their first main foray deep into the opposition territory, a penalty was won and converted by Willis Ingleby.
Meanwhile, Ash Piccaver and Jason Steels were battling with some success at the lineout thanks to the effective throwing in by Tom Rollinson.
With five minutes of the first half remaining Mason was winded while tackling and was replaced by Cooke, with Gav Sharman moving to full-back. Ashby then capitalised on lost possession by
Spalding in attack, running back the length of the field and their right winger stepping back inside to score.
Lost possession at a lineout caused the next score for Ashby – and within a few minutes 14 points had been conceded.
Different tactics by the two teams in the second half soon became apparent. Town were using their experienced pack of forwards to retain possession with pick and drives, while Ashby were looking to utilise pace out wide – and it was their right winger who was in first to score.
Town’s ball retention in the forwards soon paid off, though, as Jason Steels and John Barrett gained yardage with excellent carries and Piccaver was held up just short of the try line. But the ball was recycled and prop Jacob Greaves drove over for his first try for the club.
Spalding were all over the place at the restart and Ashby ran in an easy try. George Brown and John Barrett were replaced off the bench by Pete Smith and Cooke, back on again, but Ashby used their scrum to good effect racked up another try.
Penalties continued to be conceded, with players finding it difficult to stay on their feet at the breakdown, generally to the benefit of Spalding. Working their way up field with some good kicks to touch by Ingleby, an overlap was created out wide and Liam Adams scored in the corner for his first try in the first team. However, Ashby had the last score to secure a sizeable success.
With two of the four teams below the Elephants – Buxton and Sileby Town – clashing on the final day, it’s likely that one of them will take maximum points.
One of the others, Nottingham Moderns, also have the benefit of a home date against Kesteven – ensuring that it’ll be a roller-coaster final day. A win for Spalding will ensure their safety, but defeat will leave them looking over their shoulders at results from elsewhere.
Spalding RFC: John Barratt, Tom Rollinson, Jacob Grieves, Kev Hudson, Ash Piccaver, Harry Cole, Peter Shakespeare, Jason Steels, Willis Ingleby, Dan Adams, Liam Adams, George Brown, George Berry, Gav Sharman and Conall Mason. Subs: Pete Smith, Sam Cooke.
