With three first half tries and kicking off with the benefit of a sloping pitch Spalding went into half time with a narrow three point advantage. Moderns burst into life within the first ten minutes of the second half, rattling up 17 unanswered points with Spalding’s defence and tackling falling asleep on the watch, which secured the home team’s victory. But a fourth try towards the end of the match secured Spalding a try bonus point as a consolation.

During the game, especially in the first half, in patches Spalding looked threatening, especially when the backs found room to capitalise on the forceful running of centres George Brown and Adam McHugh. But for the first 15 minutes it was Moderns who started with confidence, as a home team should, pinning back Spalding deep in their own half.

Spalding’s first break into opposition territory brought immediate rewards as the forwards pick and drove the ball forward, Ben Shields, scrum half move ball quickly left down the blind side with winger Chris Douglas finishing off.

From the restart Moderns immediately worked their way deep into Spalding territory and from a scrum their back row broke and missed defensive tackles let the home team open their scoring with a converted try. Ten minutes later, passing along the line, saw Moderns open up a three on one advantage for a further converted try.

Spalding’s scrum was looking very solid with young Jordan Butcher joining John Barrett and Jacob Greaves in the front row. From a scrum near the half way line, flanker Harry Cole broke, passed to right wing Ashton Capes who used his speed to score out wide. Capes was denied a couple of further scoring opportunities before half time.

Brown took a knock to the head in a challenge and was replaced by Tom Wilson at outside centre. Again Spalding used their scrum as a platform to attack with fly half Dan Adams putting McHugh in space with Cole finishing off and Capes converting for a half time score of Spalding 17 Moderns 14 points.

The opening ten minutes was rather disastrous for Spalding with a period of missed tackles and very poor cover defence allowing Moderns to sink Spalding’s hopes with three tries. For the first, Moderns again, were able to create a three on one overlap on the left and with Spalding’s back row failing to cover around. Minutes later Moderns exploited again the same cover defence weakness and for their third tries in this period a high relieving kick by Spalding was gathered in by Moderns fullback who raced down the right wing.

Midway through the half sub Tom Wilson also took a knock and Liam Adams came on in the backs.

Spalding steadied the ship and came back with their fourth try late in the second half and again it was developed from their scrum 10 metres out from Moderns try line with the ball being move quickly along to fullback George Douglas to dive over. Moderns claimed the final try from open play.

On the day it was some of the younger players who impressed with Jordan Butcher on his debut carrying the ball well in open play always getting across the gain line and setting up the ball well for the next phase. Harry Cole was everywhere, especially with his carries and pace and had an impressive game. It was also good to see Tom Wilson featuring along with Liam Adams.

Team Jacob Greaves, John Barrett, Jordan Butcher, Kev Hutson, Pete Smith, Harry Cole, Captain Richard Cooke, Ash Piccaver, Ben Shields, Dan Adams, Chris Douglas, George Brown, Adam McHugh, Ashton Capes, George Douglas, Subs Tom Wilson, Liam Adams, George Reid

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