At half time there was not a lot to choose between the two teams with only a 9 points difference but in the second half Spalding were put under the hammer by Rolls Royce as they ran in seven tries.

To Rolls Royce’s credit they had a game plan of using their effective forwards with driving mauls from lineouts, cleared out strongly at the breakdown areas and together with a strong running fly half to punch holes through Spalding’s failing tackles as the game wore on, Spalding were left in disarray by the end of the match.

In contrast Spalding’s best play came through their backs, scoring three excellent tries, but who, in general, were starved of the ball.

The match started with Rolls Royce opening with two rolling mauls threatening Spalding’s try line and only stout defence prevented an opening score for the home team. Spalding’s response was impressive with the ball being moved quickly along the backs to Gav Sharman on the left wing and with his pace he outstripped his opposite number and scored with Willis Ingleby converting.

Rolls Royce came back through the forwards picking and driving from rucks with good support and soon they had a lineout on Spalding’s 5 metre line and a simple catch and drive brought the scores level.

Next Spalding won a scrum on the half way line but instead of passing out through the backs to use their pace, a wasteful kick ahead let Rolls Royce run through missed tackles to take the lead. Spalding’s kick off was poor, missed tackles again and the home team had rattled up 14 points within a minute.

Rolls Royce were exerting more and more pressure but Fin Peters intercepted a pass on the half way line and outpaced the home team’s defence to close the gap. Spalding now had several opportunities to score. A lineout was won by Ash Ankar 10 metres out, maul was established, but as they drove for the line the ball was lost. Next Spalding made a break led by the evergreen John Barrett but the final pass with the try line beckoning went astray.

A simple error with the second half kick off being short immediately handed possession over to Rolls Royce. From the scrum they passed out wide down the right hand side to score. Again the next score was through their forwards with a catch and drive from a lineout and minutes later from a scrum another score was conceded.

Willis Ingleby then lit up the afternoon with a break from his own 22 metre line outpacing three chasing Rolls Royce players down the right wing to score in the corner and still out of breath, convert with an excellent kick. A bonus point for scoring four tries was now on for Spalding, but instead they conceded a further 28 points in the last 10 minutes.

During the match, Dan Adams, inside centre, had another outstanding game with his thrusting runs, retention of the ball, tackling and more importantly his leadership of the backs. But with little possession Spalding’s back three had no ball to run with throughout the second half.

Team:- Jacob Greaves, Dave Mc Claren, John Barrett, Ash Ankar, George Berry, Harry Cole, Richard Cooke, Captain, Jason Steels, Will Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, Taylor Crowson, Fin Peters, George Douglas Subs Brian Browne, Ben Shields, George Reid.

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