Four defeats on the bounce as Mansfield topple Spalding RFC in close clash

MANSFIELD RFC 29
SPALDING RFC 17

Spalding RFC slipped in the bottom four of Midlands Three East (North) after a 29-17 defeat at Mansfield on Saturday. 

It’s now four defeats on the bounce for Town – but they were unfortunate not to end that run at Eakring Road.

Gav Sharman’s second-half try had put the Elephants two points ahead of their hosts, who were relegated with them last season, but their stiff resistance was eventually broken.

Spalding kicked off with the notorious disadvantage of Mansfield’s sloping pitch and immediately the home team looked to pin the visitors down into their 22. 

However, Town were well organised and – in Richard Cooke and Ash Ankar – they had players who were constantly tackling any threat.

Having absorbed the early storm, scrum-half Will Shields was starting to snip around the tackle area and the link with Willis Ingleby at fly-half worked well. 

The visitors suddenly caught Mansfield out of position as the backs passed the ball along the line out to Sharman on the left wing. With the try line beckoning, he was tackled – but brilliant support play by Ingleby saw him pick the free ball up and dive over for the opening try.

In typical fashion Mansfield immediately responded from the restart, pinning the Elephants down in the left hand corner.

Their flanker broke down the blind side, evaded a couple of tackles and went over for a converted try. A few minutes later and a crash ball move created a break through the middle of Spalding’s defence – and the home team was over, followed by a successful penalty and a points gap was starting to appear between the two teams.

While tackling, George Brown took a knee to the head and Tom Wilson came off the bench for the rest of the game.With half time approaching, Mansfield were attacking deep into the left corner following a kick ahead. 

Full-back George Douglas, looked to have the ball covered, but with it breaking free, winger Ashton Capes, held back the home attacker off the ball and was yellow carded. 

Taking an attacking scrum, the odds were in Mansfield’s favour. But Spalding’s scrum was holding their own, with props Jacob Greaves and Kev Hudson not giving an inch all afternoon.  With the ball won, inside-centre Dan Adams broke through the middle.

From the tackle area the movement continued with Spalding securing a scrum on Mansfield’s five metre line. 

A quick blind-side move saw Sharman in and, with an excellent conversion by Ingleby, the half-time whistle went with only three points separating the teams.

Within a couple of minutes of the restart and still a man down, Spalding shocked Mansfield with a storming break down the left by Sharman. He went over in the corner and put Town ahead.

However, Mansfield were steadily gaining an upper hand, led by their forwards grinding out territory.Then, as Spalding mounted an attack deep in home territory, the ball was lost and a counter attack saw a breakaway try by Mansfield down the wing to restore a five-point advantage.

Pressure on Spalding mounted. Locks Luke Turner and Ash Piccaver were making tackle after tackle against waves driving forwards.

The only relief for Town was some excellent runs in the centre by Adams, but support runners weren’t with him.Fin Peters came on for Capes for the final ten minutes and, with some strange referring decisions going against Spalding,  Mansfield’s fly-half was kicking deep for touch.

After a succession of lineouts, the hosts secured their fourth try in the final couple of minutes of play.

This Saturday sees Spalding host rock-bottom Nottingham Moderns at the Memorial Field (3pm) as they bid to snap their losing streak.

Spalding RFC: Jacob Greaves, John Barrett, Kev Hudson, Luke Turner, Ash Piccaver, Ash Ankar, Richard Cooke (captain), Harry Brown, Will Shields, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Dan Adams, George Brown, Ashton Capes, George Douglas. Subs: Tom Wilson, Fin Peters and George Reid.