Rugby

Skipper Sam Cooke reckons Spalding RFC are entering the defining period of their Midlands Two East (North) campaign. Town, who remain in the bottom two after Saturday’s 31-6 defeat at leaders Dronfield (see page 46), are about to embark on a run of winnable fixtures that should shape their season. Starting with a Mansfield side directly above them in the ...

Dronfield RFC 31 Spalding RFC 6 Spalding RFC were unable to build on a promising first-half showing as they succumbed to a 31-6 defeat at Midlands Two East (North) leaders Dronfield on Saturday. Two penalties from James West saw Town trail by just six points at the interval, but the Derbyshire-based hosts kicked on in the second period to maintain ...

Spalding RFC’s winning run in Midlands Two East (North) was ended by a 31-6 defeat at leaders Dronfield on Saturday. Town came into the game full of confidence after wins over Stamford and Bakewell at the end of 2015, but proved t be no match for the table-toppers. They’ll hope the loss is just a blip ahead of next week’s ...

There will be no inferiority complex shown by Spalding RFC when they visit Midlands Two East (North) pace-setters Dronfield on Saturday (2.15pm). Town, who are 11th, go into the clash some 22 points behind the leaders. But Dronfield are only top because Spalding upset previous leaders Stamford a few weeks before Christmas – and skipper Sam Cooke insists that confidence ...

Spalding RFC 7 Scunthorpe RUFC 76 There was no fairy-tale start to 2016 for Spalding RFC as higher-graded Scunthorpe RUFC cruised to a 76-7 Lincs Cup quarter-final success at the Memorial Field on Saturday. Town came into the last eight showdown on fine form, having won their last two Midlands Two East (North) games of 2015. But they proved no ...

Spalding RFC kicked off 2016 with a heavy 78-7 home defeat against Scunthorpe in the Lincs Cup on Saturday. Town were always likely to be up against it in the quarter-final clash, with big-hitters Scunthorpe currently two levels above them in the Midlands League ladder. And, despite Sam Cooke’s side going into the game with back-to-back league wins under their ...

In-form Spalding RFC are hoping to continue their winning ways on Saturday as they welcome higher-graded Scunthorpe to the Memorial Field for a Lincs Cup clash (2pm). After suffering a torrid time of it in 2015, Town ended the year with two impressive wins over Stamford and Bakewell. It’ll be a tough as for Sam Cooke’s side, though, with Scunthorpe ...

Spalding RFC 57 Bakewell Mannerians 8 Spalding RFC completed 2015 with their biggest win of the year at they thrashed Midlands Two East (North) basement boys Bakewell 57-8 at the Memorial Field. Town ran in nine tries as they wrapped up a bonus-point success and secured their first back-to-back league wins of the campaign. Harry Harrison stole the show with ...

Spalding RFC made it back-to-back wins in Midlands Two East (North) for the first time this season as they battered Bakewell Mannerians 57-8 on Saturday. Skipper Sam Cooke had called for his Town side to deliver a bonus-point win against the basement boys – and they did just that, with Harry Harrison helping himself to a four of the nine ...

Confident Sam Cooke wants Spalding RFC to sign off 2015 in style this Saturday with a big bonus-point victory against basement boys Bakewell Mannerians (2.15pm). Town are aiming to make it back-to-back wins in Midlands Two East (North) for the first time this season, having seen last Saturday’s trip to Ashbourne postponed. Having beating league leaders Stamford the previous week, ...

Spalding RFC 2nd stormed to an amazing 31-5 home win over on Northampton BBOBs on Saturday. The match opened with a try from the visitors, but The Nomads fought back to take the lead thanks to a try from Dan Adams, converted by Jake Sayer. They maintained that narrow advantage up until half time, but fantastic play in the second ...

Spalding RFC’s trip to Ashbourne on Saturday was one of three games to be called off in Midlands Two East (North) on Saturday. The heavy rainfall ensured that the pitch was unplayable, meaning Town couldn’t build on last weekend’s impressive win over league leaders Stamford. Sam Cooke’s charges conclude their 2015 fixtures with a home date against fellow strugglers Bakewell ...

Sam Cooke believes that Spalding RFC’s memorable win over Stamford on Saturday will send shockwaves through Midlands Two East (North). Town stunned their table-topping Lincolnshire rivals 25-15 at the Memorial Field to climb off the foot of the division. With Spalding being one of Lincolnshire’s top teams over much of the past decade, captain Cooke reckons that other sides will ...

Spalding RFC 25 Stamford 15 Spalding RFC turned the Midlands Two East (North) table upside down on Saturday with a stunning success over league leaders and chief rivals Stamford. Stamford came to the Memorial Field with eight wins and one narrow loss, compared to Town’s one narrow win and eight defeats – which placed them bottom. But on a day ...

Spalding RFC is recruiting a new senior coach as it looks to improve its terrible fortunes of the past two seasons. Chairman Geof Nichols confirmed Ben Williams is still player/coach but the new role would be full-time. A club advert says: “Spalding RFC requires a club coach to improve all levels of skill, and performance of all senior teams and ...

Spalding Grammar School’s rugby team moved into the last 32 of the NatWest under-15 Cup with a 22-13 win at Norwich. Having won home matches against Thomas Clarkson Academy, Stamford and Oundle – this was Spalding’s first away match in the competition. Knowing that Norwich would be a skilful team, it was always going to be a close affair for ...

Spalding RFC 2nd were unfortunate to be on the receiving end of a 27-15 defeat against Towcestrians 3rd on Saturday. Town’s second string, dubbed The Nomads, came into the game full of confidence after last week’s fine victory over Bletchley 2nd. They started well enough, with Aaron Coupe going over for a try which was successfully converted by Jake Sayer. ...

West Bridgford 33 Spalding RFC 12 It was a case of déjà vu for Spalding RFC on Saturday as more basic errors led to them losing yet another Midlands Two East (North) match. West Bridgford were the latest side to hand Town a defeat, as they romped to a 33-12 success in Nottinghamshire. It’s now just one win from eight ...

Deflated skipper Sam Cooke admits that he doesn’t know what went wrong for Spalding RFC last weekend. Town were hammered 50-5 at Southwell (see page 46), despite going into the game full of confidence after earning their first Midlands Two East (North) win of the season the previous week. Cooke admits that his side probably underestimated the size of their ...

The young guns from Spalding RFC under-10 offered an exciting glimpse of their talent as they triumphed at the Leicester Tigers Prima Cup tournament. Town took a squad of 15 to the event and were drawn in Group D alongside Chesterfield, Newcastle, Burntwood and Trentham – all teams they’d never faced before. First up was Trentham, with Spalding 2-0 winners ...