The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding Grammar School reached the last 16 of the NatWest Under-18s Vase competition after beating St Albans’ Beaumont School 23-12.
It is that first time in recent history that the school have made the regional final and consolidates yet another rugby season for the school teams.
The win sets up another away trip – to King Edward VI School Aston in Birmingham on Wednesday (Jan 28).
The game in St Albans started in frenetic style, with Spalding piling on the pressure and creating ample of opportunities within the opening five minutes.
It was, however, Beaumont School who took the lead with a try under the posts as Spalding became their own worst enemy, being unable to deal with a kick over the top.
Spalding did not panic and within a couple of minutes the deficit was reduced when Matt Pearson coolly converted a penalty just outside the 22m line.
However, it seemed like Spalding were determined to make this a hard game as, after another mistake, they were too slow to react. Beaumont turned over the ball and spread it out wide to score.
This proved to be the catalyst for a revival as the Spalding boys were able to relax and play their style of rugby which has done them well so far this season.
Within ten minutes not only was the gap bridged but then surpassed.
Scrum-half Will Shields powered his way over from five metres out and then came the try of the game when great hands from Alfie Butler, Matt Pearson and George Douglas saw Oliver Johnson race in at the corner.
As a result, Spalding went into half time leading 13-12.
The second half started in very similar fashion as the first, with Spalding having to soak up a lot of the pressure from the ever-growing Beaumont attack.
The Lincolnshire lads showed great spirit and determination to repel any advances that Beaumont made as they were consistently putting their opponents under pressure.
It was this relentless pressure that caused the Beaumont centre to lose the ball, which David Thomas picked up and ran the length of the pitch to open a small gap in the scoreline.
To the credit of Beaumont, they did not give up but Spalding took more control of the game whilst playing in the right areas of the pitch.
This pressure was once again rewarded after another display of good handling from Butler, who popped the ball out to Corey Lewis to dive in at the corner for the final try.
Spalding Grammar’s director of rugby Chris Crane was delighted with the victory.
He said: “You come into these cup matches knowing very little about the opposition.
Despite being our own worst enemy and gifting the opposition 12 points, I am proud by the way that the boys responded. They didn’t panic and played the kind of rugby that we have been working on in training.
“Alfie Butler, Andy Fuller, Matt Pearson and James Mcgeown were outstanding throughout the game and led the boys well on the pitch.”
He added: “Rugby at Spalding Grammar School is currently in a healthy situation with both the Under 14s and 16s side in the semi-final of the country cup adding to what has been another successful season.”
Try scorers: Shields, Lewis, Johnson, Thomas
Penalty: Pearson
