Gutted Spalding RFC denied their first league win by late try

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 they were unable to fend off the late Bosworth barrage.

This match had all the ingredients to be a cracker, with Spalding fielding a strong squad and the visitors having had a good start to their league programme.

Harry Sharman, Harry Brown, Mark Haighton and Kev Childs all returned for Town, who were backed by a sizeable home crowd.

However, it was Market Bosworth who showed their intent straight from kick off, being quicker to the breakdown and immediately stringing passes together.

Spalding were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle area on two minutes and Bosworth took a quick tapped penalty, catching Town napping and they were in under the posts for a converted try.

Spalding’s response to this setback was immediate and they took the game to Bosworth.

It was the home team’s turn to take a tapped penalty on the visitors’ 22 metre line, but a knock on saw the first scrum of the day and Bosworth’s superiority was immediate with Town’s front three of John Barrett, Sam Cooke and Sam Cowell buckling under pressure.

But Town kept Bosworth pinned back and, from a lineout won by Jordan Templer, Sharman broke clear to feed Brown, who drove over the line for an unconverted try.

Will Shields, scrum half, was showing his competitive spirit, harassing his opposite number at every scrum and breakdown and after 30 minutes Bosworth’s number eight was yellow carded for throwing a punch in his direction.

Shields then showed his passing skills from a breakdown, giving his threequarters room to run in their own 22 metres before Josh Broome’s clearance kick down field. Then, from a lineout,

Haighton set up a driving maul and Childs took a crash ball into the heart of Bosworth’s defence – resulting in a penalty kick for Broome and a half time lead of 8-7 in Town’s favour.

Jimmy Rowlands replaced captain Sam Cooke in the front row at half time, while Tom Duerden came on for Templer. And, with the second half only minutes old, Spalding were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and Bosworth kicked their penalty for them to edge them back in front.

However, as the second half developed Town took control. Ash Piccaver was prominent with his charging runs, while Brown was doing a wonderful job at the base of a retreating scrum and Ben Williamson, now at fly half, was moving the ball along the line allowing Harry Harrison and Childs on the wings to get into the game.

It was, however, the forwards – with only five in a lineout – who set up a driving maul from 10 metres out.And, as the drive was stalling, Shields joined, secured the ball and dived over the line for a converted try and gave the hosts a 15-10 lead.

GET OVER: Will Shields scores Spalding RFC’s second try. Photo by ADRIAN SMITH

There was still a quarter of an hour left though and Bosworth came storming back. Town went offside at a ruck and a successful penalty kick reduced the home lead to just two points.

Spalding were now fighting a rearguard action and, with minutes remaining, Bosworth had a lineout on the five metres line. The throw was not straight and from the resultant scrum Brown again rescued a retreating scrum with a pick up and fed Shields who’s clearance kick took the ball back up to the 22.

With the lineout won Bosworth chipped over Spalding’s defence and Cooke, back on for John Barrett, secured the ball only one metre from his try line.

He passed back to Sharman and, with Bosworth players bearing down on him, he was unable to get in his clearance kick to touch. The ball was lost and was spread wide along their threequarters, allowing their right winger in for the winning converted try. As the ball sailed over the posts the referee blew for time and the crowd was stunned into silence.

The referee had played an extraordinarily long second half and the Spalding players were stunned to see their first league win snatched away with the last play of the match, having played so well for long periods of the match.

Town now have a week off before making the trip to Melbourne for their next fixture on Saturday, October 24 (3pm).

Spalding RFC: John Barrett, Sam Cooke (captain), Sam Cowell, Mark Haighton, Jordan Templer, Ash Piccaver, Harry Sharman, Harry Brown, Will Shields, Adam McHugh, Harry Harrison, Ben Williamson, George Brown, George Douglas, Kev Childs, Ed Duerden, Josh Broome and Jimmy Rowlands.

Midlands Two East (N) results: Ashbourne 19 Dronfield 16; Southwell 32 Melbourne 24; Spalding 15 Mkt Bosworth 20; Stamford 31 Mansfield 12; West Bridgford 47 Nottingham Casuals 19.