Spalding Rugby Club beat Kesteven in Counties One Midlands East (South)

Incredible defence and outstanding backs play helped complete a hat-trick of league wins for Spalding Rugby Club on Saturday.

The Elephants were 17-35 away winners at Kesteven after scoring five tries for a bonus point win in the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) clash.

The victory ensured Spalding backed up recent wins over Southwell and Ashby to maintain their top five standing in the league table.

The final scoreline on Saturday probably read like a relatively easy away win for Spalding.

But that was far from it with only four points separating the teams at half-time and being under pressure playing with only 14 players in the second half, Spalding produced a series of stunning counter attacks by the backs that brought three tries.

A reshuffled pack saw Miguel Da Silva starting at prop, Henry Hobson moved to lock, Will Shields returning at open side flanker and Alex Worth starting at number eight while the backs were a very familiar line up but with Charlie Beecham making a first start on the right wing.

The opening 10 minutes saw Spalding dominate possession with play mainly in Kesteven’s half but, similar to last week, the visiting scrum was under pressure from a heavier home pack.

Spalding’s pressure brought rewards from a lineout won by Henry Hobson.

Several drives and rucks followed as Spalding edged closer to the try line where scrum half Jim Wraith put full-back Ollie Machin through a hole in Kesteven's defence coming in at pace and, with a Willis Ingleby conversion, the visitors had the early lead.

Kesteven’s game plan was to use their heavier forwards with carries down the middle of the pitch followed by rucking over the ball for the next carry.

However, in flankers Will Shields and Jack Lambe, Spalding had two outstanding jacklers either slowing the ball down or winning turnovers.

A high tackle resulted in a penalty to Spalding and in a flash Tom Rollinson was tackled short of Kesteven’s try line but, swift passing out of the ball, saw centre Jack Patrick in under the posts and, with a conversion, Spalding had turned early territory and possession dominance into points.

With Conall Mason on for centre Sam Booth and Elliot Humphreys on for Jordan Templer, who then came back on with Lambe injured, Kesteven started to mount a comeback with fierce competition at the breakdown which saw Da Silva draw a yellow card for an illegal clear-out.

For the last 10 minutes of the first half, Spalding defended their try line as if their lives depended upon it.

Finally Kesteven’s prop burst through tackles to go over the try line for a score which was converted.

A further ruck penalty to Kesteven saw a successful kick and at half time Spalding’s lead had been cut back to four points.

At the start of the second half, lock Templer drew a red card from the referee and, with Da Silva still yellow carded, Spalding were down to 13 players for five minutes.

Kesteven's pressure mounted and wonderful team defence by Spalding on their try line held the home side at bay, finally earning a turnover.

Suddenly Ingleby launched a counter attack with centre Patrick running at pace for 40 metres and releasing left wing Alexander Creak to finish the job with his speed and, with an excellent conversion from out wide, Spalding eased to an 11-point lead.

For the next 15 or 20 minutes it was survival mode for Spalding with their scrum under pressure and the battering ram of the Kesteven forwards being constantly held up by superb team defence from the visiting players.

Then came the icing on the cake from Spalding with a break from the backs which saw Beecham speed down the left wing, pass to Patrick who was caught just short of the try line but off loaded back to Beecham to score.

With another successful conversion, Spalding were nearly out of reach with 10 minutes remaining.

Beecham then dribbled another converted try to secure Spalding’s win.

With just a couple of minutes remaining, Kesteven ran in a converted try.

After the restart Kesteven knocked on and, from the scrum, Wraith kicked the ball dead with the referee blowing for full time.

Spalding: Miguel Da Silva, Tom Rollinson, Tom Parker, Jordan Templer, Henry Hobson, Jack Lambe, Will Shields, Alex Worth, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Alexander Creak, Sam Booth, Jack Patrick, Charlie Beecham, Ollie Machin. Subs Elliot Humphries, Ben Shields, Conall Mason.