With over half the season gone, Spalding finally cracked the nut and achieved a hard earned away win over old rivals Mansfield. There was a lot hanging on this result with Mansfield breathing down Spalding’s neck in the league and fielding a strong team this was a match targeted by Captain Dan Adams for a positive result.

Playing uphill in the first half, Spalding started positively taking the game to Mansfield with a combination of good carries by the forwards and scrum half Ben Shields zipping the ball out to his backs. As a result Mansfield had to defend deep in their half and conceded a number of penalties near their try line but with a missed penalty and determined Mansfield defence Spalding failed to capitalise.

Mansfield soon turned defence into attack and with two successive lineouts on Spalding’s five metre line the home team were looking to turn their possession into points but stout defence and excellent tackling by forwards Ash Ankar and Kev Hudson, with Dan Adams and Tom Wilson, in the backs, also closing down space, the home team were denied any scoring opportunities.

With the game ebbing and flowing and no team gaining a decisive upper hand, Spalding claimed the lead after 25 minutes of play. With the wind making life difficult, John Barrett found Ash Piccaver in a shortened lineout. Harry Sharman was lying out in the backs and with a turn of speed, gained 30 metres, passed out to flanker, Will Shields, to go over and with the try converted Spalding had a 7 point advantage.

With confidence high, Spalding pushed Mansfield off their ball at the next scrum, but Mansfield were working their way down into the corner on the 5 metre line. With a lineout win, the home team drove for the line and set up a ruck ready for the forwards to pick and drive. Spalding defended well denying Mansfield, but the referee called Jordan Templer offside on the blind side of a ruck by half a step, not directly involved in play, which was on the open side, awarded a penalty try and yellow carded Templer.

With a strong bench Captain Dan Adams brought on both forwards Ryan Chappell and Tim Waltham, replacing Ash Piccaver and Ben Shields, with Will Shields moving to scrum half at half time. With the game all square, Spalding now had slope advantage but within a couple of minutes they were caught offside. A successful penalty kick put Mansfield in the lead.

Spalding stepped up their game and pinned Mansfield deep in their half. Harry Sharman took a quick 'tap and go' penalty and Ryan Chappell was stopped on the line but the ball was recycled and Harry Cole went over out wide to edge Spalding back in the lead by two points with 25 minutes still to play.

During the first half the referee had been extremely tolerant with Mansfield as they conceded numerous penalties and constantly disputed decisions. Rather belatedly, a yellow card was shown to Mansfield's number eight, but again poor execution and ball retention by Spalding meant they failed to take advantage.

Full Back Conall Mason was being tested by Mansfield, kicking deep and chasing down, but he stood up well to the pressure in defence.
George Brown then came off the bench to replace Tom Wilson in the backs.

With the final minutes of the match remaining Spalding again surrendered territorial advantage, which sparked the Mansfield camp to think they could steal a victory through their forwards. Competition became intense and Templer received a second yellow and departed from the field. Next Kev Hudson was forced off with a back problem and Piccaver was back on, but within a few seconds he also received a red card. Mansfield kicked the penalty to the 5 metre line for their final lineout, but it was stolen through excellent work from Tim Waltham and Spalding’s first away win of the season had been secured.

Team- Harry Cole, John Barrett, Kev Hudson, Ash Piccaver, Jordan Templer, Ash Ankar, Will Shields, Harry Sharman, Ben Shields, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, Tom Wilson, Ed Booth, Connal Mason subs Ryan Chappell, Tim Waltham, George Brown

Match Preview

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Team Sponsors