Despite Spalding's Upping their Game in Second Half, Sileby Achieve Home Win

Despite improved second half performance by Spalding to, home team Sileby kept the them from the tryline to achieve home win to help them in their relegation battle

Spalding travelled over to Silbey, a small town north of Leicester with a relatively strong squad so there was an air of expectation as they warmed up, that an away win could be in the offering.

Making a welcome return for his first start of the season was former captain Sam Cooke at hooker, and with Harry Sharman and Adam McHugh there was a good blend of experience and youth with scrum half Ben Shields, and fly half Willis Ingleby partnering up and Jordan Butcher and Harry Cole featuring in the pack.

Within minutes of the kick off Dan Adams back at inside centre made a typical break down the middle of the park but soon Silbey started to exert pressure helped by Spalding conceding a number of penalties at the breakdown.

Silbey kicked twice down to Spalding’s 5 metre line but excellent line defence held the home team on the first occasion and on the second Spalding stole the lineout ball and Ingleby made an excellent clearance kick to relieve pressure. Right winger Tom Wilson combined with Shields to make an excellent counter attack but were tackle into touch with the try line in sight and shortly afterwards another penalty conceded for offside resulted in Silbey opening the scoring with a successful kick after 20 minutes.

Spalding bounced straight back at Silbey, winning the ball at the breakdown on the half way line and Sharman with an intelligent grubber kick saw Ingleby race through for the opening try and the lead. Silbey were using a kicking game to gain territorial advantage and benefited when not for the first time a Spalding 5 man lineout backfired and in defending their line Spalding conceded a further penalty. A quick tap penalty caught Spalding unprepared and the home team’s first try was on the score board.

Winger George Berry turned his ankle, with John Barrett replacing slotting in at hooker, Sam Cooke moving to flanker, Captain, Richard Cooke to scrum half and Shields out to the wing. Sileby capitalised as they pressed on Spalding’s try line using their forwards to drive the ball and although Spalding defended well Silbey went over for their second try.

The home team were taking control of the game and shortly before half time Spalding were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and a successful penalty kick resulted in Silbey having a half time lead of 16 points to 5.

In the second half Sileby started again through their forwards and with a kicking game to gain territory Spalding were finding it difficult to get into the game.
However it was one of Spalding’s rising stars who provided hope, as Jordan Butcher burst through a couple of tackles in open play to force his way over the line with a twenty metre run and with Ingleby converting there was only a four point difference. Spalding upped their game, starting to play at pace, with Sharman having switched with Cooke at scrum half and the ball being moved more frequently out to the backs. Winger Wilson was denied with three defenders taking him out with only a couple of metres to try line. Play was encamped in Sileby’s half for the last 15 minutes with Ash Piccaver prominent with his line breaks but any opportunities were closed out by determined Sileby defence as they battled for a home victory, which will have helped their relegation battle.

Squad- Jordan Butcher, Sam Cooke, Jacob Greaves, Ash Piccaver, Pete Smith, Harry Cole, Richard Cooke, Harry Sharman, Ben Shields, Willis Ingleby, Tom Wilson, Dan Adams, Jason Steels, George Berry, Adam McHugh Subs John Barrett, Kev Hudson