Spalding RFC 22
Oundle RFC 18
Sam Cowell’s last-gasp try earned Spalding RFC a morale-boosting 22-18 win over Oundle in the RFU National Intermediate Cup on Saturday.
The first round clash at the Memorial Field was drawn on a regional basis, with Town up against a side they faced in pre-season.
Ryan Chappell was captain on the day with Harry Brown still injured, while Luke Turner started his first senior game at lock. Adam Castle was also playing at fly-half for the first time at this level in the absence of both James West and Harry Winch, with Will Shields starting at scrum half.
Oundle started with confidence, playing the early part of the first half in Spalding’s territory and forcing the home team to defend their line. It wasn’t long before a well-won lineout ball went out to their backs, drawing the first penalty which was successfully kicked
Two high tackles by Spalding drew the next penalty – which was missed by their fly-half – but shortly afterwards he put their centres into space and, helped by a missed tackle from Spalding, the opening try went to the visitors.
Slowly, the home team were starting to work their way back into the game with the outstanding flanker Chappell gaining distance every time he carried the ball and putting Spalding on the front foot.
Two successive lineout wins by Mark Heighton, who during the afternoon gave a masterclass on winning your own ball at the front of the lineout, then helped Town get back in business.
From the second lineout the ball was passed out to Castle, who brilliantly delayed his pass to George Brown, who ran through a gaping hole that had been created in Oundle’s defence and under the posts for a converted try, reducing the visitors’ half time lead to 8-7.
Coach George Reid was being forced to use the bench, with all three substitutes – Kieran Bailey, Richard Cooke and Ozz Osbourne – needing to come on at different stages to cover for knocks and injuries.
But this did not seem to alter the team pattern, as they started to play some good attacking rugby using the width of the pitch giving both Hugh and Gavin Sharman chances down the wings.
Near the halfway line Oundle took the ball into a ruck, with Shields lurking as always. Control of the ball was lost and was immediately gathered by Shields – and with no initial defence he immediately headed deep into the opposition territory. And, with a swivel of his hips, he had beaten the covering full-back and went over for an outstanding try, converted by Castle.
The Spalding scrum was going well and with Jordan Templer, Marc Miles and Cowell following Chappell’s lead, taking on the opposition, gaining territory and challenging at the breakdown, Oundle were penalised for holding on.
A successful kick by Castle gave Spalding a 17-8 lead and a first home win of the season was beckoning.
A few minutes later Spalding were attacking down the right wing, but Oundle’s full-back won the battle to secure possession following a towering kick and immediately counter-attacked, catching the home team out of position and their left wing finally finished off the move by scoring a try to reduce the lead.
Smelling victory, Oundle continued to fight back, as Spalding’s intensity and concentration dropped.
Suddenly, a further try was conceded and all of a sudden from a winning position Spalding were now trailing by one point with just a couple of minutes left on the clock.
However, Haighton secured the ball following a lineout after the re-start and a well-constructed maul was formed. Cowell, with ball in hand at the base of the maul, finally drove over the try line and – although the conversion was missed – a well-deserved victory was secured in the last minute.
Spalding RFC: Jacob Hutson, Josh Caley, Sam Cowell, Mark Haighton, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, Marc Miles, Ryan Chappell (captain), Will Shields, Adam Castle, Gavin Sharman, Adam McHugh, George Brown, Hugh Sharman, George Douglas. Subs: Ozz Osbourne, Richard Cooke and Kieran Bailey.
Saturday: Spalding RFC v Loughborough (3pm).
