Northampton BBOB 5 Spalding RFC 22
Spalding RFC’s red-hot start to the new Midlands Two East (South) season continued with a 22-5 win at Northampton BBOB on Saturday.
It’s now three wins from as many games for Town this season, which leaves them second in the early table – just seven points behind leaders Daventry.
This latest victory was even more impressive for the Elephants, given that they travelled with 12 of the first team squad absent due to injuries, work commitments, holidays and a player’s stag weekend.
The hosts started well and pinned Spalding back on their five metre line inside the opening five minutes.
Town defended stoutly, but from a scrum the pack were driven backwards for BBOB’s number eight to touch down for the opening unconverted try.
Northampton edged into Spalding’s 22 again soon after and, having been warned by the referee that the next infringement would result in a yellow card, vice-captain, Ash Piccaver – seemingly oblivious to the warning – came in at the side of the next ruck and was forced to depart the field for ten minutes.
Despite being a man short, Spalding’s defence held firm with crunching tackles coming in from Jacob Gedney and Richard Stevenson. And, when BBOB’s backs ran at Spalding, fly-half Connall Mason and both centres Harry Hudson and James Luto were all taking their men down in the tackle.
With ten minutes of the first half remaining and Town back up to full strength, they started to motor with Northampton now giving penalties away and Mason kicking deep for lineouts.
With lineout ball won, scrum half and Captain for the day, Adam Sutcliffe was able to launch his backs along with strong carries by Sam Noble.
With a penalty awarded in front of the posts, Sutcliffe sensibly elected to kick and, with Mason slotting the ball over, Spalding had their first points of the game.
Then, from a lineout five minutes later, centre Luto sliced through BBOB’s defence and – with full back Jack Patrick in support – scored wide on the right wing.
The second half started with Spalding in the ascendancy and pressing deep. The hosts soon lost a player to a yellow card for another breakdown infringement and then, within seconds, lost a second player for coming around the side of the ruck.
Spalding failed to cash in on their two-man advantage and remained three points ahead when the hosts were restored to their full compliment.
Town soon edged ten points clear, though, as Piccaver gained good ground following and break and passed to Callum Lewis, who raced through to touch down for Mason to convert.
Spalding then upped their game both in attack and defence – causing BBOB plenty of problems.
Ben Shields, on the right wing broke clear only to be stopped five metres short of the try line.
Full-back Patrick was finding space to counter-attack and danced between his centres at pace and twisted out of a tackle to score by the posts.
With a successful conversion, Spalding’s lead was extended to 17 points.
The remaining ten minutes saw Spalding deny BBOB any real opportunities to come back into the game as they secured a second away away win of the season.
Next up for Town is a home date with Northampton Men’s Own on Saturday (3pm).
It’s the first of four home league games they will play in October – giving them a great chance to build on their stellar start to the season.
Spalding RFC: Richard Stevenson, Andy Fuller, Jordan Templer, MaCaulay Crane, Ash Piccaver, Ed Williams, Jacob Gedney, Sam Noble, Adam Sutcliffe, Connall Mason, Ben Shields, Harry Hudson, James Luto, Callum Lewis, Jack Patrick. Subs: Jorrit Schrauwers, Luke Turner, Lewis Adams.
