Spalding RFC 22 Huntingdon & District 5
Spalding RFC secured their first win of the Midlands Three East (South) season as they saw off Huntingdon and District 22-5 at the Memorial Field on Saturday.
Tries from Will Shields, debutant James Luto and Harry Sharman and Gav Sharman got Town up and running at a very wet Memorial Field, following their opening day defeat at Dunstablians.
Before the game, there was minute’s applause in honour of life-long Vice President and supporter, Norman Issitt, who passed away earlier in the week.
Once the action got under way, the rain was hammering down – which made for tricky handling conditions, especially in the second period when it became almost monsoon-like.
Both teams soon adapted well and the match became highly competitive. One minute the Elephants were impressing with their ball carrying led by captain Luke Turner and Ash Anker, then the visitors responded and looked dangerous.
The deadlock was broken after 20 minutes when Spalding made a good break with Ash Piccaver and Harry Cole gained territory deep into the visitors’ half, forcing a clearance kick to touch.
Mark Haighton won the ball at the front of the lineout, gathered in by Shields and the Town pack drove forward, with Shields scoring the opening try.
A few minutes later, centre Dan Adams suffered a deep cut above the eye while tackling and was replaced by Hamish Waine.
Huntingdon looked to take advantage of the change, but the ball was ripped in a tackle by Spalding.
From deep in their own half, fly-half Conall Mason passed out to Gav Sharman, who made a break. Full-back George Douglas was in support along with new face Luto. A pass back to Sharman released Luto, who ran in for an outstanding try.
After the half time break, Huntingdon upped their game and started to put pressure on Spalding’s scrum and their lineout was also equally impressive.
Indeed, after five minutes of the second period their winger scored out wide.
The sky was now very dark with intense rain making passing difficult and handling errors were becoming common.
But Town’s scrum was now rock solid with Sharman breaking from the back and Miguel Da Silva showing his strength and pace.
Spalding were now encamped deep in Huntingdon’s 22 and Sharman ran onto a pass from scrum-half Adam Sutcliffe and broke through the initial Huntingdon defensive tackles before going over for Spalding’s third try and a ten-point lead.
The visitors failed to respond and it was Town who went in search of their bonus point try as full time approached.
Again it was through the forwards, with penetrating carries followed by securing their ruck with that man Piccaver prominent.
But, after retaliating following foul play by a Huntingdon player, Piccaver was shown a red card.
This did not stop Spalding’s momentum and it was Gav Sharman who forced his way over in the dying seconds.
And, with Mason converting, a deserved team victory by Town was secured.
Next up for Spalding is an away date at Luton on Saturday (3pm). The hosts have won one and lost the other of their two games so far this season – the same return as Town.
Before the match, the NLD President David Andrews presented Dan Adams, winning captain of Spalding’s RFU Midlands Senior Vase victory over Dunstablians March 2020, along with current captain Luke Turner, with an engraved plate to be proudly displayed in the clubhouse.
Spalding RFC: Harry Cole, Miguel Da Silva, Luke Turner, Mark Haighton, Connor Lilburn, Ash Piccaver, Will Shields, Ash Anker, Adam Sutcliffe, Conall Mason, James Luto, Dan Adams, Gav Sharman, Ben Shields, George Douglas. Subs: Harry Sharman, Callum Lewis and Hamish Waine.
