Spalding travelled up to Southwell having had an extended break of four weeks with Christmas and the recent bad weather resulting in no games and very limited training.
The good news for Spalding was the return of the forceful Lachlan Summers, who had made such an impact during the second half of last season.
The game had been in the balance, again due to heavy overnight rain, the go ahead being confirmed at 10am on Saturday.
Fly half Willis Ingleby kicked off with the advantage of the slope of the pitch and within the opening couple of minutes Spalding had a lineout won by George Douglas and the ball was immediately passed along the backs with full back Charlie Beecham going over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Southwell’s response was swift from the restart, slicing through Spalding’s initial tackles but turnover ball was secured then driven forward, but the referee awarded a penalty for not releasing at the breakdown and Southwell successfully slotted the ball between the posts.
Spalding had the upper hand in play and territory but Southwell were competing well and the next time they entered Spalding’s 22 an offside penalty kick sailed again through the posts from out wide and the home team were one point up.
Spalding’s front row of Jordan Templer, Elliot Humphreys and Miguel Da Silva were having a tough afternoon with the scrum generally on the retreat.
But midway through the first half, Ingleby with vision, threw a long pass out to left wing Sam Christie, who’s pace took him round the defence for a good touch down and an excellent conversion kick by Ingleby giving the visitors the lead.
Again Spalding let Southwell back into the game with the referee awarding a penalty for a high tackle. It was successfully kicked and Spalding’s defence was then stretched to the limit with Southwell’s forwards driving for the try line but valiant tackles held the ball up over the line.
Then just before half time Spalding struck. Playing an advantage near the try line Summers drove through a gap in Southwell’s defence and offloaded to right wing Henry Duce, who evaded last minute tackles and touched down for an unconverted try and a lead of 17 points to nine.
The second half would prove a challenge, playing up the slope in muddy conditions, not having a sufficient lead at half time and with six minutes played matters were not helped when centre Sam Booth, making a break, went to ground, support play was slow to arrive and was judged to have played the ball on the ground.
The penalty awarded was successfully kicked.
Unfortunately Spalding, then suffered inconsistent refereeing decisions, which had a marked effect on the game.
With a quarter of the game remaining a Summers tackle was called above the sternum and a yellow card was produced.
Ben Shields replaced scrum half Jim Wraith who had suffered a shoulder injury.
Within two minutes, with Spalding defending their try line after a strong Southwell scrum gaining territory, winger Duce, having made a tackle, was pinned under a Southwell player, ball available to play but the referee yellow carded Duce for not rolling away.
Two players down allowed Southwell to score a converted try.
Tom Rollison, off the bench, had replaced Templer and with Summers returning, lock Henry Hobson was then also yellow carded, again an alleged not rolling away offence at the breakdown and Southwell took advantage to score out wide.
Spalding nearly snatched a try at the death with a kick out wide from Ingleby to winger Christie, who just failed to hang onto the high ball.
The only consolation for Spalding on a tough afternoon was a losing bonus point and remaining fourth in the league
Team: Jordan Templer, Elliot Humphreys, Miguel Da Silva, George Douglas, Henry Hopson, Jack Grundy, Jack Lambe, Lachlan Summers, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Sam Christie.
