Spalding 2nds 29
Skegness 26
Having assembled a large squad of players captain Richard Stevenson was delighted to lead his Spalding 2nds team out against Skegness.
The squad was swelled with a few Colts players having no match this weekend and a sprinkling of first teamers with their scheduled opponents, St Neots, having conceded the game resulting in a bonus point win for Spalding.
The early minutes of the game saw Skegness far more organised than the home team with a stronger pack but also prepared to pass the ball along the backs and it was no surprise when the visitors opened the scoring after ten minutes with a converted try.
Continual pressure from Skegness forwards resulted in a further converted try within five minutes to establish an early 14-point lead.
But Spalding started to hold their own as the half unfolded, with William Pite doing well in the lineout securing good possession, helping debutant scrum half Jim Wraith distribute the ball with his good passing skills.
However both teams were having difficulty at the breakdown resulting in a high number of penalties.
Within two minutes of the second half Skegness had increased their lead to 21 points with a converted try from a 5m penalty.
However at half time Stevenson, rotating his squad, brought on fresh faces who made an instant impact.
Fly half Conall Mason soon demonstrated his tactical kicking gaining territory.
With possession secured by the forwards they worked their way down the left flank with good pick-and-goes and Ash Anker opened the scoring for Spalding.
The combination of Wraith and Mason now started to open up the game and Gav Sharman benefited from being put into an opening and with his pace from the half way line Spalding were on the way back with a converted try.
Skegness came back through their forwards and with a series of rucks, initially well defended by Spalding on their 5m line, the visitors having pulled the home team defenders in, had a three-man overlap for a walk in try, taking their score up to 26 points with 15 minutes remaining.
Sharman then combined with Mason and he was over from distance for his second try.
Spalding were pressing and from scrum possession on their five metre line Skegness fumbled the pass back to their fly half and Wraith was in to touch down.
Spalding’s stunning comeback was completed with the last play of the game with Mason showing his pace down the left flank breaking through the last tackle to score in the corner for a 29-26 victory.
Meanwhile the Vets were paying over at Deeping, who also won with an identical score, with Sam Noble two tries, Julian Davis, and Harry Waine bagging one each and Richard Cooke earning a penalty try.
Second Team: Captain Richard Stevenson, Mark Edwards, Ryan Melloch, Connor Broome, Ed Williams, Henry Williams, William Pite, Toby Wilks, Nertie Proctor, Harvey King, William Stevenson, Riley Carnell, Aaron Pooly, Macauley Crane, Miguel Da Silva, Gav Sharman, Jim Wraith, Conall Mason, Jake Blanshard, Giles Farell, Ash Anker.
