Spalding RFC 20 Boston 5
After nearly 18 long months, Spalding RFC returned to competitive action on Saturday with a 20-5 Memorial Field win against rivals Boston.
Town’s first match of the season saw them successfully begin the defence of the RFU Midlands Senior Vase, which they won back in March 2020 with an excellent performance against Dunstablians.
Spalding’s team selection threw up a few surprises –the biggest of which seeing George Brown, who has spent his whole career as a centre, selected in the front row as hooker.
Also in the forwards, former captain Harry Brown was back at blind side flanker and Connor Lilburn started after a series of injuries.
A new combination at half back took to the field too with Adam Sutcliffe, having moved to the area, starting at scrum-half and Conall Mason moving up from full-back to fly-half, with Willis Ingleby having moved on.
Also returning was George Douglas at full-back, who will be hoping to build on some good performances from his last stint back in the 2018/19 season.
Another interesting selection saw brothers Taylor and Wilson Crowson paired at centre. During the NLD Summer Cup competition they had shown pace, trickery and sound defence and captain Luke Turner was keen to see what they could bring along with some of the experienced players such as player/coach Harry Sharman, Ash Piccaver, Gav Sharman and vice captain Will Shields.
The opening few minutes set the scene for the match, with both sets of forwards looking to dominate by keeping the ball tight and punching holes in defence with good carries.
Leading the way for Spalding were Piccaver and Harry Sharman, while Boston locks Deano Dean and Lewis Eldin were also showing up well.
With no real openings in the early exchanges for either side, Spalding took the opportunity to kick a penalty from 35 metres as Mason coolly stepped up and the ball sailed between the posts for a 3-0 lead.
Boston, however, came straight back at Town and within a few minutes they had worked an opening which their scrum-half Josh Cook gratefully took, set up by the left winger Perry Cumber coming inside, to put the visitors in the lead by two points.
For the next 20 minutes it was stalemate between both teams but Boston seemed to be edging the game and territory without threatening Spalding’s try line.
As with any local derby there was a level of intensity and determination by both teams not normally associated with the opening game of the season and finally Boston conceded a kickable penalty, which Mason converted for Spalding to edge ahead.
From the restart, Spalding kicked deep crossfield with left winger Gav Sharman chasing down as Boston’s right winger Jaron Cowen failed to gather the ball.
Winger Gav Sharman instead gathered and sped for the try line to open his account for the season. With Mason also converting, suddenly Town had extended their lead to 13-5 at half time.
Play resumed after the break with the forwards continuing to carry, followed by a ruck and scrum-half Adam Sutcliffe looking for another phase and carry.
The wingers on both sides were rarely seeing the ball, while Boston’s centres allowed Taylor and Wilson Crowson to showcase their defensive tackling.
Boston’s fly-half Rowan Mason was kicking long for territory, but full-back George Douglas was catching the high balls every time and setting up counter attacks.
With ten minutes left to play, Spalding should have done better with a penalty kick to touch five metres out, but were not clinical enough and Boston cleared.
However, the Elephants came straight back and were deep inside Boston’s 22 and a few penetrating carries by the forwards saw captain Turner over with Mason converting for a lead of 15 points.
Boston were not finished and there was some desperate defending on Spalding’s try line, with Boston finally being tackled into touch.
Overall, it was an excellent match, with Spalding coming out on top against a very game Boston side.
Town now begin their Midlands Three East (North) campaign at Dunstablians on Saturday (3pm).
Spalding RFC squad: Luke Turner, George Brown, Tom Rollinson, Ash Piccaver, Connor Lilburn, Harry Brown, Will Shields, Harry Sharman, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason, Gav Sharman, Taylor Crowson, Wilson Crowson, Ben Shields, George Douglas Subs Callum Lewis, Miguel Da Silva and Macauley Crane.
