Spalding RFC 5
Southwell RFC 7
Spalding RFC slipped to a potentially costly defeat in their bid for Midlands Two East (North) survival on Saturday as Southwell edged a tight tussle at the Memorial Field.
Scoreless at half time, Town battled back from conceding a converted try in the second half when Harry Sharman went over – but, crucially Tom Winch’s conversion missed.
Although the Elephants pushed for a late winner, they had to settle for one losing bonus point. That leaves them three points clear of the drop zone with just six games left to play.
With the visit of Nottinghamshire-based Southwell very much on Town’s radar as a match they needed to win, preparation during the week had been good with a full turnout at training on Thursday.
From the start of the game it soon became clear that both teams were going to compete at every breakdown and the tackles were going in thick and fast.
An early penalty to Spalding saw Winch kick to touch for a lineout. With Sharman, Jordan Templer and Ash Anker all accomplished jumpers, it was surprising that the lineout was lost to Southwell.
It set the tone for the afternoon, with the visitors regularly disrupting Town’s lineout possession.
As the penalty count mounted against Southwell, their number five lock was yellow carded for repeated infringements and Spalding nearly took advantage with Sharman releasing Harry Harrison down the wing.
However, the speedy winger was stopped yards short of the try line.
The first half continued to ebb and flow with both teams on top for spells.
Spalding had to survive a battering on their line with some excellent defence, while their scrum was also under pressure. Harry Brown, at the base of the scrum, made some telling contributions in securing the ball, with his trademark carries or passing the ball out to scrum-half Will Shields.
Soon after the teams turned around at 0-0, Harrison was called upon to use his pace and put in a try-saving tackle as the visitors started to play a more expansive game, giving their backs the opportunity to run and look for space.
There was nothing Town could do 15 minutes into the second half as Southwell were rewarded with a try from the best passage of play in the match.
The ball was driven upfield by their forwards and, from a ruck on Spalding’s 22 metre line, the ball was moved quickly by their accomplished fly-half through the backs – releasing their left wing to run around and score under the posts for a converted try and a seven point lead.
Within four minutes the Elephants were right back in the game as they secured their put in at a scrum on Southwell’s five-metre line and Sharman was over in a flash. But, with the conversion from Winch going wide, they still trailed by two points.
Undeterred, Spalding went hunting for the win with the forwards starting to gain the upper hand in open play with Anker winning a number of turnover balls and using his strength and power to crash the ball up breaking the first tackle.
Brown also had a storming line-breaking run – and finally the breakthrough appeared with a two-on-one situation and the try-line beckoning.
Sadly for Town, the final pass went straight to the opposition.
Then, from the last play of the match, a penalty to Spalding saw them go for a lineout. But the ball was not thrown in straight and the opportunity was lost.
Although Spalding were close to an important win, their inexperience let them down at vital times as they started to throw the ball around deep in their own half rather than kicking for valuable territory.
Their team spirit, which shone through once again, should help them stay out of the relegation zone – with the losing bonus point at least a valuable consolation prize.
Spalding RFC: Mikey Watts, Sam Cooke (captain), Sam Cowell, Jordan Templer, Tim Waltham, Ash Anker, Harry Sharman, Harry Brown, Will Shields, Sion Williams, Harry Harrison, George Brown, Kieran Lake, Tom Winch and Ed Booth. Subs: Mark Haighton, George Douglas and Pete Waudby.
- Before kick off, one minute of silence was observed following the death of John Naylor, who had been a stalwart of the club throughout his life.
- Saturday: Ashbourne v Spalding (2.15pm).
