With Spalding on an unbeaten home league run and Notts Casuals having won all their league matches, there was a level of expectation that this would be a first class clash, between two teams, who like to play fast attacking rugby.

Coach George Reid team selection was a relatively easy affair as he looked for a pack of forwards who would not only hold their own in the scrum, but be mobile to counter Casuals running and offloading game. With this in mind, Ryan Chappell was selected at lock alongside Jordan Templar. Young prop Harry Cole retained his place up front, with Will Shields at openside flanker for his speed around the park and to the breakdown.

From the kick off by fly half Willis Ingleby, Spalding immediately pinned Casuals back deep in their half with the backs, lead by Captain Dan Adams, closing down space shutting out options to run with ball. But Casuals are a very good team and they too were soon gaining territory, but Spalding’s counter rucking was impressive, led by Ash Ankar. Within the first quarter two turnovers had been won by Spalding and Casuals penalised for holding on.

With 25 minutes of exciting and competitive rugby played, the referee unfortunately intervened. Spalding’s hooker John Barrett was attempting to exit a ruck, following play, with a Casuals player lying on the floor, illegally hang onto his leg. In attempting to break free the referee judged Barrett to have stamped on the Casuals player and issued a red card. Most observers, at best, thought either a yellow card or a penalty the appropriate sanction.

With a man down and 55 minutes to play, Spalding were facing a daunting task ahead.

What happened next took the opposition by complete surprise. Spalding, playing with ball in hand, found Ed Booth on the ring wing, near the half way line, with no room, but somehow he squeezed passed the first tackler with the side line inches away and then turned on the accelerator. He passed a second defender, then a third and cut back inside to beat the last man for an outstanding try.

With this encouragement Spalding were making breaks all over the field, but the final pass was just not going to hand. At the breakdown, Spalding were again challenging, causing disruption to Casuals' possession and further turnovers were won. Casuals lost their number eight to a yellow card and with the half time whistle, the visitors retreated to the changing rooms for a dressing down by their coach.

Within minutes of the restart the referee was again issuing a yellow card to Jordan Templar, but this further loss of a player did not stop Spalding with Ryan Chappell's speed and strength always making inroads and combining well with Harry Sharman. Spalding turned possession into points, within Casuals 5 metre area, as Cole drove through defenders to touched down for a 10 point lead.

A team is generally most venerable immediately after scoring and Casuals opened their account as they ran in their first try thanks to perhaps a lapse in concentration and missed tackles. Matt Heaton came off the bench, for his first team deputy in the front row, replacing Kev Hudson and Sam Forrest replaced Tom Wilson at outside centre.

The referee produced his yellow card again, this time for Casuals' number twelve, but with Spalding starting to tire following all their first half efforts with a one man down, Casuals were finding room for their speed merchants claiming their second try to go 2 points clear with 15 minutes remaining on the clock.

Harry Sharman was now at the wrong end of yet another referee decision. Casuals' forwards were starting to make breaks and Sharman tackling back went to ground with the tackled player who laid the ball back. Crucially no ruck was established at the breakdown. Spotting this, Sharman dived on the available ball securing possession, but received a yellow card for this..

Now deprived of two forwards and Casuals exerting pressure in the scrums, Spalding were going backwards at pace and a succession of collapsed scrums could not stop the visitors claiming their third try.

Experienced Rob Lucas marked his return to the first team duties from a long term knee injury replacing Ben Shields at scrum half. Another error of judgement by the referee brought further problems for Spalding when Casuals knocked on and Spalding hacked the ball forward about 10 metres with Casuals regaining possession. A simple decision of 'no advantage' from the referee, with a scrum in Spalding’s favour was not taken and play was allowed to continue, much to Spalding’s dismay. As a result, with an immediate overload advantage out wide, Casuals secured their bonus point win.

During the second half Spalding’s outstanding player was young Conall Mason at full back. Time and again his last man tackling invariably downed his man. When a relieving kick was required his boot never failed to find touch or distance and at the end of the game was voted Spalding’s Man of the Match.

The standard of play in the first 25 minutes by both teams was outstanding as a contest. However, on the day, the referee did not seem to be in tune with managing the game for the benefit of the players, which had a material impact on the afternoon

What shone out was Spalding’s spirit in adversity, gaining a 10 point advantage over the league leaders with only fourteen players on the pitch which had them rocking, unable to handle Spalding’s attacking play.

Team: Harry Cole, John Barrett, Kev Hudson, Jordan Templar, Ryan Chappell, Ash Ankar, Will Shields, Harry Sharman, Ben Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, Tom Wilson, Ed Booth, Conall Mason. Subs Matt Heaton, Richard Lucas

Report by Peter Jullien

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