Spalding Vets 44 Lincoln Vets 15
Harry Sharman ran in a hat-trick of tries as Spalding RFC’s vets saw off their counterparts from Lincoln 44-15 on Saturday.
Lincoln were hit with unavailability and injury and only travelled to south Lincolnshire with ten players, but Spalding showed great sportsmanship and lent them five players, – including up and coming first team player Macauley Crane.
Town started strongly and opened the scoring when captain Justin Cole, along with his front row colleague Richard Stevenson, helped to push Sharman over the line for a try.
Jason Chilvers and Ryan Chappell also scored tries for Spalding, while Lincoln’s only score of the first half came via skipper Jason Taylor.
He took a quick tap penalty from 20 metres out before running through the opposition defence.
Lincoln lost Darren Rorie to injury within ten minutes of the restart and had to play the remainder of the match with 14 men.
Spalding capitalised, and fly-half Richard Cooke scored the first two tries of the second half with breakthrough runs, which were both converted by Rob Lucas.
Taylor scored a further two tries to complete his hat-trick as Lincoln continued to show great spirit and battle hard.
Excellent teamwork set up Taylor’s second try of the match, but it was his third that was arguably Lincoln’s best of the afternoon after a great team move.
An incredibly strong counter ruck from Liam Horsley and Caleb Coleman-Morley drove a very secure Spalding ruck backwards, with Sam Cave expertly hiding the ball from the opposition scrum-half.
This led to a pick and go from five metres out before Taylor ran through the Spalding defence for a try.
Spalding’s Sharman also grabbed a treble as he added a further two tries, which were assisted by Cole.
The final score of the afternoon was scored by Spalding’s Mark Haighton, who received an offload from Chappel before running from halfway for a great try.
Spalding captain Cole said: “Lincoln put up a strong opposition assisted by one of Spalding’s up and coming first team players Macauley Crane.
“The game was played in a true rugby spirit.”
- Spalding RFC’s scheduled Midlands Three East (South) game at leaders Stockwood Park on Saturday was declared a home walkover, with Town forfeiting the fixture due to continuing injury problems affecting availability.
They will hope to be back in action on Saturday when they welcome eighth-placed Stewarts and Lloyds to the Memorial Field (2pm).
