Rugby

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 ...

Southwell 50 Spalding RFC 5 Spalding RFC crashed back down to earth with a thud on Saturday as Southwell handed them a sobering Midlands Two East (North) defeat. Having earned a stunning first win of the season the previous weekend, Town produced a poor performance in Nottinghamshire as they were crushed 50-5 by a home side that began the day ...

Spalding RFC were thumped 50-5 at Southwell in Midlands Two East (North) on Saturday as they failed to build on last week’s confidence-boosting victory. Town had hoped to make it back-to-back league wins for the first time in recent memory, but were dealt a crushing defeat by a side that began the day in the bottom five. The heavy loss leaves ...

Sam Cooke has always maintained that his Spalding RFC side would come good. His faith was finally vindicated by Saturday’s thrilling 26-22 win over Nottingham Casuals as Town registered their first league success of the campaign. Captain Cooke admits that the beer “tasted better” on Saturday night and that he was “proud as punch” by the performance. But he’s now ...

Spalding RFC under-17s prepared for their NLD qualifier against Boston under-17/18s with a hard-fought 12-5 friendly against Peterborough Colts. It was the Colts who started the stronger but, against the run of play, Spalding were first on the scoresheet. Full-back Adam Castle fly hacked through and winger Ciaran Thompson, at full pelt, put his football skills to action to kick ...

Spalding RFC 26 Nottingham Casuals 22 A dramatic try from George Brown during the last play of the match earned Spalding RFC their first Midlands Two East (North) win of the season on Saturday. Brown pounced on a loose ball in the dying seconds at the Memorial Field to crash over and clinch Town a 26-22 victory over Nottingham Casuals. ...

Spalding RFC finally got their Midlands Two East (North) season up and running with a 26-22 Memorial Field victory over Nottingham Casuals on Saturday. The win is Town’s first in the league at the sixth time of asking a hauls them level with Bakewell Mannerians at the foot of the table. It’s also the first league victory of Sam Cooke’s ...

Defiant Spalding RFC skipper Sam Cooke insists that he still has total faith in his side to turn their disappointing season around. Town have lost all five of their Midlands Two East (North) games so far this season and have exited two cup competitions. That’s hot on the heels of relegation from Midlands One East, where they managed just one ...

Melbourne RFC 31 Spalding RFC 12 Spalding RFC are still searching for their first Midlands Two East (North) win of the season after a disappointing second-half showing saw them crash 31-12 at Melbourne. Saturday’s defeat is Town’s sixth from as many matches in the league this season – and they remain the only side in the division without a win. ...

Spalding RFC’s torrid campaign continued on Saturday as they lost 31-12 at Melbourne. The defeat in Town’s sixth from as many matches in Midlands Two East (North) this season – and they remain the only side without a win in the division. The loss keeps Spalding bottom of the table, but they are only five points behind tenth-placed Mansfield. See ...

Skipper Sam Cooke feels his Spalding RFC side are ready to deliver their first victory of the Midlands Two East (North) season on Saturday. Town, who are bottom of the table, have lost all five of their league games so far – but were incredibly unfortunate to go down 20-15 to Market Bosworth last time out. Cooke and his team-mates ...

Spalding RFC 15 Market Bosworth 20 A last-gasp converted try denied Spalding RFC their first win of the Midlands Two East (North) season on Saturday as Market Bosworth snatched a 20-15 win at the Memorial Field. Town, who had lost all four of their league games going into the clash, had led 15-10 with 15 minutes to play – but ...

Skipper Sam Cooke insists nobody at Spalding RFC is feeling sorry for themselves despite a tough start to the new season. Although Town won their Lincs Cup opener against Kesteven, they’ve since lost five games on the trot – including last weekend’s RFU Intermediate Cup clash at Rushden & Higham (see page 38). That includes three defeats from as many ...

A last-minute try saw Spalding RFC’s winless run to the new Midlands Two East (North) season continue on Saturday as they lost 20-15 at home to Market Bosworth. Harry Brown and Will Shields both scored tries for Town at the Memorial Field as they led going into the closing stages at the Memorial Field. But a converted Bosworth try at ...

Rushden & Higham 38 Spalding RFC 13 It’s now five defeats from six matches this season for Spalding RFC after Rushden and Higham handed them a 38-13 reverse in the RFU Intermediate Cup on Saturday. Town, who have lost three Midlands Two East (North) games and were also seen off by Stamford in the NLD Cup, were soundly beaten by their ...

Skipper Sam Cooke hopes struggling Spalding RFC can use Saturday’s Intermediate Cup clash at Rushden and Higham as a springboard to kick-start their season. Town, who are bottom of Midlands Two East (North) after three defeats from as many games, are targeting success in the knockout competition this year. Cooke, who missed Saturday’s heavy loss at Mansfield, feels Spalding need ...