Spalding Rugby Club round-up

Spalding missed the opportunity to become the first side this season to beat Counties 1 Midlands East (South) high-flyers Biggleswade on Saturday.

The Elephants went down to a 17-13 reversal despite looking the better team overall as their search for a first league win of the campaign continues.

Biggleswade had a stronger scrum which they used effectively and snatched the winning try towards the end of the game.

With Tom Rollinson making his first start of the season at hooker and a welcome return for newcomer Lachlan Summers at number eight in the pack, Spalding looked to be fielding perhaps their strongest line-up for this away challenge.

The early exchanges saw both teams looking to impose their style on the game with Biggleswade's scrum strong and powerful.

Spalding were looking sharper in open play in the backs and, with flankers Jack Patrick and Will Shields getting to the breakdown ball the quickest, all was set for a tight game.

The first scoring opportunity fell to Spalding with a penalty kick with Willis Ingleby pulling it wide after seven minutes.

Shortly afterwards, lock Jordan Templer and a Biggleswade player both received yellow cards as the referee attempted to manage the breakdown area.

Biggleswade's strength was certainly in the scrums and captain Luke Turner at prop was having a torrid time against his opposite number,

However, in open play, Summers was showing his ball carrying power by breaking tackles and setting up good ruck ball.

This allowed scrum half Jim Wraith to distribute the ball to the backs with Ryan Firth fairly new to the centre position showing up well.

Spalding got their first score after 20 minutes as a penalty kick to touch by Ingleby five metres out saw George Douglas secure possession and the ball flowed all the way along the back line to left wing Gav Sharman.

Biggleswade's defence held firm but Spalding through Alex Worth - on for Templer - and Summers with pick and goes were challenging the try line and finally Douglas drove over.

Spalding had a five-point lead at half-time and had been the better team with ball in hand but the home scrum was causing problems as they were starting to get on top.

Biggleswade came out in the second half the brighter of the two teams and, within the first few minutes, a penalty for a high tackle and then a converted try in open play following a strong scrum saw the home team take a five-point lead.

Spalding responded well and it was the forwards who encamped themselves a few metres short of the Biggleswade try line with the home team giving away a succession of penalties.

Using tap and go tactics, Sam Cowell drove over to equal the score which was followed shortly afterwards with a successful penalty kick to take a three point lead.

However, in the last quarter, Biggleswade were doing all they could to secure a home win and put the Spalding defence under severe pressure.

A quick tap and go saw the home team's stand-out prop charge down the wing straight through two tackles for the winning converted try for another narrow loss for Spalding who returned home with a bonus point.

Spalding's ability to successfully take the kicking points on offer has cost them dearly in all four league games to date this season.

If taken, they would have been challenging towards the top of the league rather than being in the lower reaches.

Spalding: Sam Cowell, Tom Rollinson, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, George Douglas, Jack Patrick, Will Shields, Lachlan Summers, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Sam Christie, Ryan Firth, Hendry Duce, Gav Sharman, Ollie Machin. Subs: Canham Fraser, Alex Worth, Conall Mason.

A last minute try and conversion earned Spalding 2nds an entertaining 31-31 draw with Mellish in their Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) clash at Centenary Park on Saturday.

The lead had changed hands several times during the match with the final outcome perhaps a fair result.

Peter Glanville scored the equalising try which was converted by Ollie Murdoch to add to the two he had kicked earlier in the game.

Tries from Harry Biehler-Birch, Owen Coon (two) and Ben Bettinson had set Town up to take all the league points but the visitors fought back and left the home side to claim the last gasp draw.