Spalding cruised to victory on the opening day of the new Midlands Counties One East (South) with a 24-17 success at local rivals Bourne.
The step up in class after last season’s promotion did not faze the visitors, who matched their hosts in a good competitive game in which the lead changed hands several times.
Spalding’s pre-season training had gone well, with excellent numbers attending training plus two months of gym work. A Sevens squad won a tournament at Boston and there was a narrow warm-up loss at Oadby Wigstonians, who play a league higher.
The opening day squad was boosted by the return of front row Sam Cowell, No.8 Alex Worth, fly-half Willis Ingleby and Reece Callaby on the subs bench
Bourne sent an early penalty kick wide of the upright and were made to pay when Spalding soon took the lead when Will Shields won the ball and drove forward, allowing Ash Anker to squeeze over for the opening try, with Conall Mason adding the conversion.
It took Bourne only four minutes to respond with a converted try to leave things all square at 7-7 after 11 minutes
Spalding thought they had secured another try when Ingleby went over but the referee awarded a penalty against Spalding for holding on at the ruck.
Both teams were struggling with the new tackle law, tackles have to be below the sternum and there was a succession of penalties awarded and with half-time approaching it was 10-10.
Excellent handling and offloading saw Bourne over the try line and a simple conversion gave the home team a seven-point lead. Spalding then lost Worth, yellow carded for a team warning for high tackles
Despite being a man down, Spalding took control of the game after the interval and good play by the forwards, with Luke Turner prominent, saw Cowell drive over by the post and a conversion saw the score back to level pegging at 17-17.
Spalding were forced into a couple of substitutions with flanker George Brown off with a leg injury, replaced by Callaby, and lock Miguel Da Silva replaced by Macaulay Crane.
Full back Jack Patrick, last year’s Player of the Year had a couple breaks with his side steps and left winger Gav Sharman was caught a couple of times by last-minute tackles as he flew down the wing.
A penalty was awarded for another high tackle and quick thinking by Ingleby saw him take a quick tap, twist to evade a tackle and go over the try line for another converted try.
Spalding were now 24-17 up and Bourne a man down to a yellow card.
That numerical advantage was soon ended when centre Taylor Crowson was penalised for a high tackle and yellow carded, only for Bourne to lose another man to a high tackle.
With 10 minutes remaining, Adam Sutcliffe came off the bench, replacing scrum half Jim Wraith, for a welcome return after nearly a year off with an injury.
The home team scored again to level matters but Spalding again responded to go seven points clear
With 30 seconds remaining, Bourne were awarded a penalty. They kicked for a lineout but a successful steal by Will Shields saw Spalding secure possession and kick the ball dead to confirm victory.
Spalding v Bourne: Cowell, Anker, Turner, Douglas, Da Silva, Brown, W Shields, Worth, Wraith, Ingleby, Sharman, Mason, Crowson, B Shields, Patrick. Subs: Callaby, Crane, Sutcliffe.
