Spalding RFC 0
Kettering RFC 35
Struggling Spalding RFC conceded their 1,000th point in Midlands One East on Saturday as they slipped to an 18th loss from as many matches.
High-flying Kettering picked up a 35-0 victory at the Memorial Field – and with Belgrave picking up a rare victory over Huntingdon, Town are now 14 points adrift at the foot.
Despite Kettering being one of the sides hunting for promotion, confidence was high in the Spalding camp as they fielded perhaps one of their strongest teams of the campaign so far.
Tom Deurden was back in at lock and paired with Mark Haighton, while Harry Sharman returned to his familiar position of open side flanker.
In the backs, Adam McHugh was in at full back after a couple of games in the seconds, having recovered from a broken finger, while Ben Williamson was making his first start of the season on the left wing.
With a snow shower at 11am leaving the pitch rather slippery under foot and with temperatures hovering at around zero centigrade, the game was set for a rather old fashioned battle with the forwards likely to be dominant and the ball difficult to handle.
The early exchanges showed that both teams were up for the match in front of a decent crowd.
Kettering’s scrum had the edge – and with the difficult handling conditions producing plentiful ‘knock-ons’, the visitors seized an attacking advantage.
It took 20 minutes for Kettering to open their account as number seven Josh Block was able to squeeze his way over the line for a converted try.
Spalding came back, but found it difficult to gain territory in the conditions.
McHugh, bursting forward from full back, was making good yardage, but the visitors’ defence held firm on every occasion. Meanwhile, Town’s two wingers, Ed Booth and Ben Williamson, were having to come inside to look for the ball in a bid to get into the game.
With half time approaching, both teams were cancelling each other’s attacking efforts out through stout and well-organised defending. But the Kettering forwards were driving on and their prop Josh Cox soon crashed over for a converted try to establish a lead of 14-0 at half time.
During the interval Ben Williams, in his first match as first team coach, made a couple of changes to the team with Kevin Childs replacing McHugh and George Brown coming on for wideman Williamson.
It wasn’t long before Kettering were testing Childs with a couple of high kicks – but not only did he show how safe a catcher he was, but with a bit of space he was able to gain 20 or 30 metres every time.
However, the visitors were gaining more control of the game and 20 minutes into the second period their outside centre Joe Newman found a hole between Josh Broome and Sion Williams to sail under posts for a further converted try.
Spalding’s response was positive and the forwards, led by Sam Cooke and Sharman, gathered in possession and established a couple of excellent driving mauls.
But it was still proving difficult to put any pressure on the visitors’ try line.
Midway through the half Kettering sealed the victory when their fly-half Andy Byrne went over, followed a couple of minutes later by their hooker Steve Fraher.
Late on Jimmy Rowlands also made a welcome return to Spalding’s first team when coming off the bench to replace Jacob Hutson.
In the final minutes Town were camped on Kettering’s try line, but just could not finish off some good work with a score.
Childs, playing only the second half, made a considerable impact on the game and was voted man of the match.
Spalding visit fellow strugglers Mansfield this Saturday (2.15pm).
Spalding RFC: Waudby, Cooke, Hutson, Haighton, T Deurden, Richardson, Sharman, H Brown, Shields, Broome, Williamson, Chappell (captain), S Williams, Booth, McHugh, G Brown, J Rowands and Childs.
Saturday’s results: Bedford Athletic 8 Ilkeston 7; Belgrave 26 Huntingdon & District 14; Bugbrooke 10 Derby 12; Old Northamptonians 10 Market Rasen & Louth 7; Spalding 0 Kettering 35; Syston 61 Newark 0.
