SPALDING RFC 31
MANSFIELD 3
A highly professional and clinical performance saw Spalding RFC blow away old foes Mansfield 31-3 in Midlands Three East (North) on Saturday.
After a hard-fought first half with few scoring opportunities, four well-taken tries after the break earned Town a bonus point win at the Memorial Field.
With captain Richard Cooke injured, Luke Turner out due an ankle operation, Jason Steels resting his troublesome shoulder, Will Shields out with a fractured wrist and Harry Brown suspended, Ash Piccaver took over the captaincy.
He was, however, able to recall Mark Haighton at lock, Harry Sharman at number eight and Kieran Bailey at blind-side flank.
In the backs, Fin Peters was also out with concussion, resulting in George Douglas moving to the wing, with a welcome return for Ben Williamson at fullback and Ben Shields featuring at scrum-half.
In typical fashion, Mansfield’s game plan was to retain the ball in their forwards, playing to their strengths, with pick and drives and challenging fiercely at the breakdown.
Also prominent was their experienced fly-half, who controlled the early play and seized the first scoring opportunity with a drop goal.
First phase play is always important, securing the ball to set up attacking play. Mansfield’s scrum had the initial edge, but steadily Spalding’s scrum improved – especially in the second half.
Meanwhile Town’s lineout was superb all afternoon, with young Kieran Bailey out jumping his opposite number at the front and Mark Haighton, turning back the years, for a dominant display.
Bailey also managed to steal at least three Manfield lineout throws, with the pressure he was exerting.
As the half progressed, the hosts started to secure more possession, especially through forceful running by fly-half Dan Adams and outside centre George Brown, resulting in Mansfield conceding a penalty ten metres from the try line.
Quick thinking by Sharman saw him take a quick tap penalty, catching Mansfield’s defence asleep and with the aid of a dummy pass, he sailed past his tacklers to score, with Ashton Capes converting.
With no further scoring Spalding had a narrow half time lead of 7-3.
Early in the second half, captain Piccaver led Town’s dominant performance by example, with several powerful breaks.
After five minutes of the second period he broke down the blind side, broke a couple of tackles and ran in from 20 metres for an unconverted try.
Five minutes later it was the backs’ turn. The ball was spread wide and inside centre Willis Ingleby kicked deep towards the corner.
With two Mansfield defenders covering back, Capes chased down – more in hope – and the ball broke free under challenge, allowing him to go over for Spalding’s third try.
George Berry then came off the bench, replacing George Brown in the centre, and made an immediate impact. He put in a superb tackle as Mansfield attempted to break Spalding’s stranglehold.
Dan Adams was on hand to collect the ball and crashed over – and, with Capes converting, the try bonus point had been secured.
Mansfield were now resorting to relieving kicks downfield to ease the pressure, but they had not reckoned on Town full-back, Williamson.
Never failing to catch the high ball, he had an open invitation to run the ball back, always beating the first tackle, if not the second, establishing many of Spalding’s counterattacks.
Left wing Douglas capitalised and a kick forward followed by a chase saw him collect the ball and run around the defence for his try. With Capes converting, Spalding had collected four second half tries with no response.
Shortly afterwards Ingleby was injured and Brown came back on the field for the last ten minutes, along with John Barrett replacing Kev Hudson, who had been rock solid all day at lock
With the 80 minutes up, Mansfield rarely threatened Town’s try line in the second half and with just a dropgoal conceded in the first half, it was an excellent afternoon for the now seventh-placed Elephants.
Their next league game is at Nottingham Moderns on Saturday, February 17.
Spalding RFC: Pete Waudby, Aaron Coupe, Pete Smith, Kev Hudson, Mark Haighton, Ash Piccaver (captain), Kieran Bailey, Harry Sharman, Ben Shields, Dan Adams, George Douglas, Willis Ingleby, George Brown, Ashton Capes, Ben Williamson. Subs George Berry and John Barrett.
