Spalding Rugby Club and Vipers draw their league opener

Spalding shared the spoils in their opening match of the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) season after a 12-12 draw at Vipers on Saturday.

The Elephants were reasonably satisfied with their opening day efforts as they returned from Leicester with two hard fought points for the draw.

Vipers had snatched a home win against Spalding last season with a try down the wing in the dying seconds and ended up above the Elephants in the league standings.

It was a fairly familiar team selection for Spalding with only Ollie Machin making his senior debut on the wing while there was a welcome return for Ryan Firth, after his travels in Asia, at centre with captain Luke Turner on the bench.

Vipers, having kicked off, were soon on the front foot using their forwards effectively to gain territory.

Spalding's pack were up for the challenge as they defended stoutly and counter-attacked with good carries featuring George Brown, playing at number eight, and Fergus McKerracher.

Play was back and forth but Vipers conceded a penalty and Conall Mason's kick ricocheted off the upright.

Both teams were gaining good territory with kicks to touch, however, Spalding's lineout jumpers - George Douglas and Will Shields - struggled throughout the game to secure possession.

But what the Spalding forwards were particularly good at, on the day, was their driving pick and goes.

After 25 minutes, the Spalding forwards established themselves deep inside Vipers' 22 and, with control and patience, they were rewarded with the opening try by prop Sam Cowell.

He got in under the posts and, with a simple conversion by Mason, Spalding were seven points up.

Being behind, stirred Vipers up and a deep penalty kick to the five metre line saw their captain secure lineout possession and good passing along their backs saw the home left wing score out wide.

Vipers now had the upper hand and copied Spalding's tactics with pick and goes to drive up the middle and their fullback had a simple run in under the posts.

After the conversion, the referee's whistle went for half time with Vipers 12-7 up.

Turner replaced Tom Parker in the front row at the break and, within a minute of the kick off, Vipers lost a player to a yellow card for a high tackle.

However, the home side kept pressing and a penalty for not rolling away at the breakdown saw Vipers' penalty kick rebound off the upright and a clearance kick by Spalding.

With the arrival of Turner, Spalding's scrum, which had been under some pressure, were now turning the tables on Vipers and it was the forwards who led the way with good carries with Zokas Raimondas and the skipper prominent.

The pick and goes again established a position nearly on the try line on the right wing with Cowell going over for his second try but Mason's difficult conversion kick sailed wide.

With the scores level at 12 points each, the game was there to be won and Spalding stepped up, although their structure in the backs seemed to fall apart.

Spalding had two difficult but kickable penalty kicks in the last 10 minutes to win the game but both sailed just wide of the uprights.

Tension again mounted as Vipers also had a penalty kick in the last minute which likewise sailed wide of the posts and shortly afterwards the referee blew for full time.

Spalding will need to work on their lineout drills during the week in training and have a more precise structure and passing within the backs as both wingers were rarely involved.

They are away again on Saturday with a short trip to Bourne who won 16-19 in Stockwood Park in their league opener.

Spalding: Sam Cowell, Jordan Templer, Tom Parker, Zokas Raimondas, George Douglas, Fergus McKerracher, Will Shields, George Brown, Ben Shields, Willis Ingleby, Ollie Machin, Conall Mason, Ryan Firth, Gav Sharman, Jack Patrick. Subs: Luke Turner, Fraser Canham, Adam Sutcliffe.

Spalding 2nds lost their opening NLD League match to a more experienced Southwell 2nds side who recorded a 15-26 success.

The Elephants were unable to maintain consistent pressure on their visitors who used their forward strength to good effect and scored four tries while adding the conversion to three of them.

The home team's lively backs required more consistent possession and could have easily added to the three tries, two of which were scored by Ronnie Crowfoot and one from Rob Lucas who dived over after good vision by Ben Bettinson.

Southwell were lucky to only lose one player to a second half yellow card.