Spalding RFC took a massive step towards ending their season with silverware after beating Dronfield 39-12 in the first leg of the NLD Summer Trophy final on Saturday.
Harry Sharman led the charge at the club’s New Ground, scoring three of the six tries on the day to secure a 27-point advantage ahead of Saturday’s second leg at Dronfield (3pm).
Willis Ingleby, Callum Lewis and Taylor Crowson also ran in vital scores on the day, with Town now hopeful of finishing the job and lifting the trophy.
The Elephants put their visitors from north Derbyshire under pressure from the off and went ahead when Conall Mason slotted over a penalty.
Within minutes Spalding were carrying the ball well, with captain Luke Turner and Sam Noble proving difficult to stop.
A try looked on the cards and, with Dronfield desperately defending, fly-half Willis Ingleby’s excellent kick through turned the defence and centre Crowson raced through to touch down for the first try of the game.
Spalding maintained their dominance with Tom Birdseye’s lineout work giving good ball to scrum-half Adam Sutcliffe, while Ingleby was starting to pull the strings in midfield. It was, though, Sharman in open play who broke through several tackles for his first try of the afternoon, converted by Mason.
The tactic of the forwards carrying up the ball was proving a winner, with Ash Anker and Pete Waudby continuing to set up good ruck ball. Yet it was Sharman who again Dronfield could not cope with, as he broke through a couple of tackles for his second try.
Leading 20-0 at the break, Turner started to use his bench – but it was the backs who really cemented a good winning score.
Again, it was Ingleby who started a move with both centres Wilson and Taylor Crowson using their pace and the final pass to right wing Lewis was well taken for him to score in the corner.
It was then Ingleby who scored a brilliant try. Receiving the ball just inside his own half, he weaved his way past a couple of tackles and completely outpaced any cover defence to score under the posts. With an easy conversion for Mason, Spalding had increased their lead to 32 points.
However, to Dronfield’s credit they never gave up and they applied pressure on Town – creating an overlap on their left for their first try.
Having taken a break with his turn on the bench, Sharman made an immediate impact on his return and again it was his strength when tackled that allowed him to burst clear, with his third try of the afternoon converted by Mason.
But It was Dronfield who had the final score of the afternoon with their left winger being put into space to score near the posts duly converted to help set up the second leg this Saturday.
Spalding RFC (squad): Pete Waudby Sam Cooke, Sam Noble, Ash Anker, Luke Turner, Tom Birdseye, Will Shields, Harry Sharman, Willis Ingleby, Callum Lewis, Wilson Crowson, Taylor Crowson, James Brand, Conell Mason, Harry Exley, Rob Lucas, Joe Grundy, Connor Lilburn and Miguel Da Silva.
