Spalding Rugby Club beat Newbold-on-Avon at Centenary Park
Spalding Rugby Club secured their first win of the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) season after a narrow home success on Saturday.
The Elephants defeated Newbold-on-Avon 12-10 at Centenary Park after each side had dominated a half of the contest.
Spalding used their scrum and line-out to good effect in the opening period as they scored all of their points in the first half.
However, with the wind advantage after the break, Newbold came back to cut the deficit to just two points before Spalding held onto their slender lead.
Spalding fielded a strong team despite one or two absences with Harry Brett making his debut and colt Henry Duce starting at fly half.
The team started brightly in their first-ever meeting with a Newbold side who had been relegated from a higher league last season.
Within the opening minutes, Spalding's scrum had Newbold in trouble with one of their props being substituted.
Spalding scrum half Jim Wraith immediately started to spin the ball out to Duce and it flowed through the backs.
Sam Christie, on the wing, outpaced the visitors defence to open the scoring and, with Duce converting, a seven-point lead had been established after 10 minutes.
Jordan Templer in the lineout was dominating possession while Will Shields at the front stole Newbold possession on a number of occasions.
The visiting forwards were not enjoying Spalding's dominance and tried to counter at the rucks with some debatable tactics.
With the home team dominating possession, the ball was being passed along the backs and winger Ben Shields had a couple of decent runs.
It was the forwards who encamped themselves on Newbold's try line after flanker Jack Patrick had gained valuable yards evading tackles. With a thrust over the try line, Lochlan Summers was over for an unconverted score.
Duce maintained the pressure with a superb 50-20 kick but, with no further scores, Spalding had a 12-point lead at half-time.
Having had the benefit of the wind in the first half, the big question was would Spalding's lead be sufficient.
For the opening 20 minutes of the second half, Spalding had scoring opportunities with their scrum driving towards the try line, only for the control of the ball to be lost at the back. Prop Sam Cowell went over but the referee judged the ball to have been held up.
A penalty kick to Newbold got them on the scoreboard, but Spalding's defence in the backs was holding up well with Duce marshalling his line and both centres, Brett and Gav Sharman, closing down pace on the visiting centres.
However, with Spalding on the attack, possession was turned over with Newbold breaking from the halfway line.
They caught Spalding's defence completely out of line and, with a four-on-one advantage, Newbold had their converted try and the home side's lead had been cut to just two points with all to play for in the last 15 minutes.
Although play was now more end-to-end, Spalding had further opportunities through their scrum five metres from the try line but were again squandering possession.
Finally hooker Tom Rollinson kicked the ball dead for the referee to blow for full time and a narrow but deserved win for Spalding.
The victory leaves Spalding seventh in the 12-team standings ahead of Saturday's trip to Stewart and Lloyds.
Spalding: Sam Cowell, Tom Rollinson, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, Fergus McKerrancher, Jack Patrick, Will Shields, Lachlan Summers, Jim Wraith, Henry Duce, Ben Shields, Harry Brett, Gav Sharman, Sam Christie, Ollie Machin. Subs: Miguel Da Silva, Ray Zokas, Fraser Canham.