Spalding Rugby Club are victorious against Bourne Rugby Club
Spalding produced a stunning performance as they recorded their biggest win of the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) season on Saturday.
The Elephants were back to their very best as they recorded a 35-3 victory over neighbours Bourne at Centenary Park.
They restricted their visitors - who had beaten league leaders Stamford seven days earlier - to just the one scoring opportunity from a penalty kick.
Spalding, meanwhile, scored five tries themselves to secure the bonus point in their final home game of the year.
The home side had gone into the derby duel after a shock defeat at home to Stockwood Park in stormy conditions last weekend.
But, following two good midweek training sessions, Spalding's game stepped up a number of levels with all aspects of their play working in tandem.
Bourne shone brightly in the first 15 minutes by using their strong running centres to crash the ball up which was followed by good support from their forwards.
Spalding's tackle defence, with centres Conall Mason and Jack Patrick having to stand up to a battering, were well supported by flankers Will Shields and Lachlan Summers.
Bourne took the lead after five minutes with a penalty kick but that was the end of their scoring for the afternoon.
Steadily Spalding absorbed Bourne's enthusiasm and, with a penalty kick from 35 yards, Mason slotted home to draw level.
The forwards - with hooker Miguel Da Silva having returned to the side and Raimondas Zokas back at lock together with Summers in the pack - were holding their own against Bourne's strong set of forwards.
Well into the first half, Spalding were now using their possession with purpose by bringing their backs into play at pace.
This was forcing Bourne onto the back foot and left winger Gav Sharman evaded a number of tackles to score a good try and, with a Mason conversion, Spalding took the lead.
From the kick-off, Spalding’s game flowed with the forwards and backs producing excellent interplay while good carries by props Sam Cowell and Luke Turner forced Bourne to defend their try line.
Da Silva twisted and turned and forced his way over near the corner and, with a good conversion, the lead was now 12 points which was extended by a further penalty kick just before half-time.
The visitors needed to come back out fighting after the break to get back into the game and the opening few minutes of the second half saw them again trying to use their centres by cutting back inside at pace to gain territory.
However, lock George Douglas cut out a pass inside his own half, evaded with his pace a couple of tackles, made 40 metres and then released fly half Willis Ingleby in support with a pass back inside and his pace took him under the posts to score a converted try.
Spalding's interplay between the forwards and the backs running at pace was stretching Bourne's defence to breaking point.
Right wing Ben Shields had a couple of decent runs and Harry Brett, back at full-back, was rarely troubled in the second half but it was Ingleby diving over in the corner who secured the try bonus point with 30 minutes still to play.
Coach Ali Sharp now used his bench with Ryan Firth on for Ben Shields and Douglas off with Henry Duce on.
Bourne lost a player to a red card shortly afterwards with Spalding's Jim Wraith also going off with a yellow card.
Spalding were in full flow with Patrick causing problems with his tricky runs and Jack Grundy continuing his good work from number eight, always gaining valuable territory and carries despite tacklers coming in to set up good ruck possession.
It was Ingleby who finished off the scoring as he completed a move across the pitch with going over in the far left corner.
Spalding play their final match before Christmas on Saturday when they travel to Bugbrooke.
Spalding: Sam Cowell, Miguel Da Silva, Luke Turner, George Douglas, Raimondas Zokas, Lachlan Summers, Will Shields, Jack Grundy, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Ben Shields, Conall Mason, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Harry Brett. Subs Tom Parker, Henry Duce, Ryan Firth.
