Mansfield RFC 34
Spalding RFC 7
Although there were again positives for Spalding RFC to take on Saturday, they failed to register an elusive first win of the Midlands One East season as fellow strugglers Mansfield emerged as sound winners from this basement battle.
Indeed, if Spalding had any designs on winning a match this season in the league then this trip to lowly Mansfield was perhaps going to be their best remaining opportunity.
As a result of a work-related injury vice captain Sam Cooke was sidelined, giving Jimmy Rowlands his first start of the season at hooker after he came off the bench last week with some degree of success..
In the back row, skipper Ryan Chappell was starting at blind side flanker with Luke Scotney on the other flank with the ever present Harry Brown at number eight. With Tom Duerden and Mark Haighton as the two locks, the scrum was looking promising on paper.
Likewise a more settled feel to the backs was also encouraging – with Harry Lane coming back onto the left wing being the only change from the previous week. He played together with George Brown, who was back in at outside centre.
With skipper Chappell, electing to play with the slope advantage in the first half, Mansfield kicked off and immediately gained territory and possession in the Spalding half.
The home team’s forwards were prominent and it was not long before they were on Spalding’s try line looking for an early score.
However, Harry Brown came to the rescue, ripping the ball away for Josh Broome to clear.
Parity didn’t last long, though, as on the quarter hour the Mansfield forwards – with their strong scrum on the 22 line – had Town back pedalling and the first try was scored.
Spalding’s response was positive, with the forwards getting into the match. From a ruck on the ten metre line the ball was quickly spread along the three quarters – and with a three on one advantage and the try line beckoning they somehow managed to squander the opportunity.
Mansfield then showed their visitors how to finish, with first their right winger cutting back in to beat Spalding’s cover defence, followed shortly by a back row move off a five metre scrum. With both tries converted, the home team led 19-0.
With the clock ticking down to half time, Chappell intercepted a Mansfield pass 40 metres from the try line – but a last ditch tackle just metres short stopped him in his tracks.
With two glorious scoring opportunities missed in the first half – and playing against the slope in the second – the signs were ominous for Town.
Coach Ben Williams made some half time tactical changes, switching full back Adam McHugh with fly half Broome. He also brought on second team captain Richard Cooke for the first time this season, as he slotted into the scrum half role with Will Shields moving to left wing to replace Lane.
With the team settling into the second half, Mansfield had a lineout deep into the Spalding half – and as the ball was moved out to their centre, he broke a tackle and was in under the posts.
With the slope advantage, Town must have feared the worst.
Again, the Spalding response was excellent and they were now taking the game to Mansfield.
From a scrum on the Mansfield 22, Cooke fed the ball to McHugh, who glided through a gap and beat the cover defence to score with Broome converting.
Minutes later from a lineout won by the towering Haighton, a driving maul was stopped just short of the line.
Despite Spalding now pressing Mansfield, they scored a breakout try from their own half having been under constant pressure.
This didn’t stop the away side from piling on relentless pressure, with the scrum now going in their favour.
The front row of Pete Waudy, Rowlands and Jacob Hutson were turning the screw and winning ball against the head. From a lineout, Duerden forced a Mansfield error and a kick through into the goal area was followed up by Rowlands, but he was inches from touching down.
However, Spalding could not finish off all their good work and it was Mansfield with the last play of the match who stole in for another breakaway try.
Overall, this was a highly encouraging team performance with many positives for coach Williams.
With opportunities in the first half and constant pressure in the second half, Spalding looking the fitter and more organised team.
They just needed more confidence in their own ability to finish off and get over that try line.
Spalding take a break from league action next weekend, with a home date against Market Rasen and Louth on February 21 their next match in the division.
Spalding RFC: Waudby, Rowlands, Hutson, Haighton, Duerden, Chappell (captain), Scotney, H Brown, Shields, Broome, Booth, S Williams, G Brown, Lane, McHugh, Caley, Cooke, Bailey.
