Spalding RFC 69
Bakewell Mannerians 14
Spalding RFC got their new Midlands Three East (North) season off to a stunning start as they destroyed Bakewell Mannerians 69-14 at the Memorial Field on Saturday.
In one of the best opening day performances in Town’s recent history, they ran in nine tries to secure a bonus-point success – with Gav Sharman leading the way by going over twice.
The Elephants absolutely destroyed Bakewell in the first half, with a power display from the forwards and the backs thoroughly enjoying the space created to clinch a result that will likely send shockwaves to all of the other teams in the league.
The game was only a minute old when the forwards stormed into Bakewell territory and scrum half Will Shields span the ball to the backs and outside centre George Brown then cut back inside to score by the posts.
Ten minutes later Shields sniped around the blind side of a ruck, side-stepped a couple of tackles and was on the scoreboard.
Then, left winger Sharman showed he had not lost any of his pace, evading the Bakewell defence for his first try to make it 17-0 after just 15 minutes of play.
The foundations of the outstanding performance were being laid down by the forwards, who enjoyed complete domination in the scrum, were first to the breakdown – led by Ash Ankar, who made a complete nuisance of himself all afternoon.
This domination was illustrated by Spalding’s front row, with first prop Jacob Greaves claiming a try from a ruck a metre out, followed by hooker John Barrett bursting through. And, with Town’s other prop Kev Hudson featuring, the rampage continued
While locks Luke Turner and Harry Brown were thriving on crash ball moves, open-side flanker Jason Steels was next to score.
He burst through Bakewell’s tackles to score, followed a minute later by fly-half Willis Ingleby using his pace and skills to slice open the visitors’ defence.
With Ingleby converting his own try, Spalding had racked up 41 first half points.
Bakewell’s solitary response was a driving maul from a lineout, which was well converted.
At the half time interval, coach George Reid rang the changes with Aaron Coupe on for Barrett, Ben Shields replacing his older brother at scrum-half and Kieran Bailey replacing lock Luke Turner.
To their credit, Bakewell responded early in the second half pinning Spalding deep into their 22.
A series of penalties allowed Bakewell’s fly-half to kick to touch on the five metre line and, with Spalding adopting a strategy of not contesting the lineout, Bakewell finally established another successful driving maul to double their score.
The Elephants soon re-awakened, with the forwards re-established their authority, as Ben Shields found Ingleby in space from a ruck and captain Dan Adams – on a crash ball – moved through the middle, juggled with the ball and scored under the posts.
Bakewell continued to struggle at the tackle area with Ash Anker winning a series of turnover balls and with his forceful carries had an outstanding game without getting onto the score sheet.
Next, Sharman rounded a weakening defence for his second try followed minutes later by Harry Sharman throwing a dummy pass and waltzing through the gap to score under the posts.
The final action was a delightfully opportunistic try by young Ben Shields.
Spotting a lack of blind side defence by Bakewell at a ruck he seized his chance to dart for the try line and cut back inside evading some desperate tackles
Spalding RFC: Kev Hudson, John Barrett, Jacob Greaves, Harry Brown, Luke Turner, Ash Ankar, Jason Steels, Harry Sharman, Will Shields, Willis Ingleby, Conall Mason, Captain Dan Adams, George Brown, Gavin Sharman, Adam McHugh Subs Kieran Bailey, Aaron Coupe, Ben Shields
Saturday’s Midlands Three East (North) results: Notts Casuals 15 Mansfield 7; Notts Moderns 31 Kesteven 5; Rolls Royce 40 Buxton 3; Sleaford 10 Belper 17; Spalding 69 Bakewell 14; Tupton 20 Ashfield 25.
Saturday’s Midlands Three East (North) fixtures (3pm): Bakewell Mannerians v Ashfield; Belper v Spalding; Kesteven v Rolls Royce; Mansfield v Nottingham Moderns; Nottingham Casuals v Tupton.
