What a cracking match this was, away at Grimsby, with that old sporting cliché “a game of two half’s” applying with the home team generally controlling the first half with Spalding hanging on. But in the second half Spalding stormed to an excellent win with five top class tries.

England coach, Eddie Jones, has his finishers coming off the bench but Justin Cole standing in for coach, George Reid, had his “providers” who made the difference.

Grimsby started the match in a confident style, using their forwards to good effect to drive the ball up field, especially their back row taking the ball on the burst to get across the gain line and with Spalding’s defence drawn in, the ball was spread quickly out wide to their left winger to score in the corner. Five minutes late a repeat but this time scoring out wide on the right.

Spalding defensive shape sharpened up as they pressed to close space led by centres George Brown and Adam McHugh. Grimsby lost the ball deep in Spalding’s half and it was then spread quickly along the backs to Gav Sharman who showed his pace to outstrip everybody to open Spalding’s account. But in doing so, he pulled his hamstring with Fin Peters substituting.

Spalding’s scrum was again looking very secure, led by props Pete Waudby and Pete Smith and not to be out done hooker John Barrett burst forward gaining 30 metres. The momentum was continued and finally finished off as Ash Piccaver broke through a couple of tackles to go over in the left corner pulling Spalding level on points.

Grimsby immediately responded and twice Spalding’s press defence was caught offside with Harry Cole received a yellow card for the second offence with just five minutes of the first half remaining. The home team took full advantage of the extra man helping themselves to two tries and a half time lead of 22 points to 10.

With the 10 minutes yellow card up, Jason Steel came onto the field in place of Harry Cole and immediately made an impact, playing number eight with Harry Brown moving up to lock. From a scrum Steels picked up and gained a good twenty metres. Fin Peters continued the move down the left, cut back inside and Adam McHugh was on hand to crash over the try line.

Just a couple of minutes later Spalding came right back into the game. The forwards were starting to win the breakdown battle, with Grimsby tiring and scrum half Ben Shields, who had an excellent game, popped the ball out of the back door to fly half Dan Adams who offload to George Brown to run between the posts and with Ashton Capes converting, scores were now level.

Back came Grimsby through their forwards to go five points up. Then back came Spalding with the ball flowing along the backs in open play, pulling Grimsby apart, with McHugh finishing off for his second try of the afternoon and the teams were level again
Next, Steels again made a break across the field, Piccaver continued the move, who then popped the ball back inside with Harry Brown on his shoulders to score between the posts, converted by Capes .

The home team were in disarray unable to cope with Spalding’s running game. Peters then lit up the dull afternoon with a mazy run down the left wing beating four or five defenders and finally tackled just a few metres short, but George Douglas from fullback was in support to cross the line with Capes converting.

With a fourteen point lead and eight minutes remaining, all Spalding needed to do was close the match out. Immediately, they stole lineout possession, for the first time, from Grimsby and with tiredness and the temperature dropping, both teams handling was suffering and started to knock the ball on. With each scrum time was ticking away. Grimsby hooker, in frustration, infringed and was yellow carded, which in effect sealed an excellent win for Spalding.

Certainly this was the best away team performance of the season, with a level of intensity, offloading with support runners and quick passing, which left the opposition stunned and defeated by the end of the match.

With the bonus point win Spalding climbed up to fifth in the league, just two points off third place.

Team- Pete Waudby, John Barrett, Pete Smith, Harry Cole, Ash Piccaver, Will Shields, Captain Richard Cooke, Harry Brown, Ben Shields, Dan Adams, Gav Sharman, George Brown, Adam McHugh, Ashton Capes, George Douglas, Subs- Jason Steels, Fin Peters