Spalding RFC 38 Stewarts & Lloyds 46
Spalding RFC almost pulled off Mission: Impossible on Saturday as they roared back from 41 points down to lose 46-38 in a Midlands Three East (South) thriller at the Memorial Field.
Corby-based visitors Stewarts and Lloyds bossed the first half and looked set to hand Town a humiliating home defeat, with the hosts a whopping 36-0 down at half-time.
That was extended to 46-5 early in the second period, but the Elephants turned a seemingly hopeless situation into a barnstorming comeback before ultimately running out of time in one of the best examples of the cliched ‘game of two halves’ phrase you’ll ever see.
In a first-half display of outstanding running rugby by the visiting team’s backs, Stewart and Lloyds tore Spalding apart – and it started within the first minute when the away scrum-half nailed an outstanding drop kick, rarely seen these days, from near the touch line.
For the first 20 minutes of the game Town were unable to get out of their half, with the visitors dominating.
Their lineouts were slick and, although their scrum was under pressure, they always seemed to move the ball away to fly-half Kieran Manson, who with a good passing technique, constantly played his centres Devon Reilly and Jake Biddle into space as they came onto the ball at pace.
After 25 minutes four converted tries had been run in for a lead of 29 points and a try-scoring bonus point.
Spalding were looking for some salvation through their forwards with their strong carries, but the visitors were faster to the breakdown ball and were determined not to let the hosts score.
With the half time whistle due, Stewarts and Lloyds’ prop broke free from a ruck and, with an undefended blindside, a further converted try was scored.
At 36-0, Town were staring down the barrel at their heaviest defeat in recent memory.
The mood lifted somewhat when, immediately from the restart, Jason Steels and Ash Piccaver punched holes into the opposition’s defence, carried on by Ash Anker who scored for Town out wide.
Stewarts and Lloyds were still full of confidence, though, and again it was their centres who were causing problems with their pace and handling as a penalty and a converted try were added by the rampant away side.
Spalding seemed to be in dire straits, with nobody expecting the remarkable fightback that followed.
Their forwards were starting to punch holes in the away defence, with Peter Waudby and Kev Hudson coming to the fore.
With the tables turned, the visitors were now starting to concede penalties at the breakdown and, from a quick tap penalty, Harry Cole forced his way over out wide – with Conall Mason making an excellent conversion.
With 20 minutes left, Spalding were now on the front foot with skipper George Brown leading by example. Again encamped in the visitors’ half, he received the ball lined up alongside his centres.
Sprinting forward, the whole of the visitors’ defence looked on, mesmerized, as he sliced through unopposed to score near the posts for an outstanding converted try.
Inspired by their captain, Spalding went hunting with their forwards now looking dominant. And, within a couple of minutes, this pressure told as Alan Charevicius was driven over for his first try for the club, converted by Mason. With five minutes remaining Anker was over again for his second try and Spalding were now racking up the points.
Remarkably, Cole then went over for his second try in the corner with Stewarts and Lloyds’ defence in disarray.
With another fine conversion by Mason following, there were just eight points between the sides.
Town were now just one score away from a losing bonus point, but time was against them and the visitors were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Stewarts and Lloyds, with their scintillating handling skills, support play and pace in their back, were outstanding on the day.
But Spalding were courageous in the second half, mainly through their forwards, and came back from being dead and buried and nearly snatched the game in what would have been the most remarkable of comebacks.
Spalding are tenth after the defeat, just one point above rock-bottom Queens.
This Saturday sees Town make the short trip to Bourne for a derby duel against a home side that sit second in the standings (2pm).
Spalding RFC: Peter Waudby, Miguel Da Silva, Tom Parker, Alan Charevicius, Ash Anker, George Brown, Jason Steels, Harry Cole, Ben Shields, Adam Sutcliffe, Callum Lewis, Harry Waine, Gav Sharman, James Luto, Conall Mason. Subs: Kev Hudson, Ash Piccaver.
