Spalding Rugby Club score seven tries in their victory over Ashby

Spalding produced a stunning performance as they ran in seven tries to record a 52-0 home win over Ashby in Saturday's Counties 1 Midlands East (South) clash.

The big victory ensured the Elephants backed up last week's home success over Southwell against an Ashby side who had arrived at Centenary Park full of confidence following a narrow home defeat against league leaders Loughborough University 2nds.

With a number of players carrying injuries, Spalding had a revised back line with Alexander Creak making his debut on the left wing, Jack Patrick returning at outside centre and Henry Duce on the right wing.

The early exchanges favoured Ashby who had Spalding going backwards at the scrum to put pressure on the home team's defence with Jack Lambe and Henry Hobson producing some thumping tackles.

Spalding won turnover ball at the breakdown after 10 minutes and launched a counter attack featuring the backline with Duce bursting down his wing to score the first try.

With a good conversion by fly half Willis Ingleby, the scoreboard started to tick over.

Within four minutes, Ingleby ripped open Ashby's static defence as he weaved in and out at speed to score between the posts and, with a simple conversion, a 14 point lead had been established.

Ten minutes later Ashby's flanker was yellow carded and Ingleby converted the penalty kick.

Ashby defence was showing signs of weakness in the face of the pace and passing by Spalding's backs with inside centre Sam Booth showing good vision with his passing while left wing Creak missed out on a couple of good scoring opportunities.

Spalding were now pinning Ashby back into their 22 and hooker Tom Rollinson with a good interception and carry set up a ruck ten metres out.

Scrum half Jim Wraith passed out to Ingleby who sliced through the Ashby defence with his running line to score between the posts and, with a simple conversion, Spalding were 24 points up at half-time.

The second half did not start so well for Spalding with lock George Douglas, who had been dominant in the lineout, yellow carded.

As he returned after a 10-minute rest, Jordan Templer - who was back on in place of substitute Conall Mason - also received a yellow card while off the bench Charlie Beecham replaced Ollie Machin.

Captain Ingleby settled any apprehensions by the home team as he sliced through Ashby's defence out wide and, with his conversion going over the posts, he had a hat-trick of tries to celebrate later.

Spalding’s forwards had stepped up in the scrum, now holding their own and winning a scrum penalty.

Elliot Humphries then replaced hooker Rollinson in the front row.

The try spree then stepped up in the last six minutes.

Beecham picked up the ball in his own half and used his speed for a couple of inside step backs and flew over the try line with an Ingleby conversion.

Next up was right wing Duce who steamed down his wing and cut back inside, breaking a couple of tackles for his second try with an Ingleby conversion.

In the final minute, Jack Grundy burst through Ashby’s disheartened defence for his try and a further Ingleby conversion.

This was a scintillating performance by Spalding and their reward was to see them climb up the league to fifth place ahead of the trip to Kesteven on Saturday.

Spalding: Connor, Rollinson, Parker, Douglas, Templer, Hobson, Lambe, Grundy, Wraith, Ingleby, Creak, Patrick, Booth, Duce, Machin. Subs Humphreys, Beecham, Mason.