Town edged out by rivals in top-of-the-table showdown

Daventry 28
Spalding RFC 17

Something had to give as the two teams with 100 per cent records in Midlands Two East (South) clashed on Saturday – and it was Spalding RFC who lost 28-17 at leaders Daventry.

Both teams boasted ten wins from as many games so far in the league ahead of the clash, but Town came home with nothing for the first time this campaign.
The game lived up to its billing, with Spalding stunning the home team with an early lead but, by half time, Daventry were 13 points up in front of a large crowd.
Two second half tries saw Spalding storm back into the game, closing the gap to a one score margin and then controversially had two good tries overruled by the referee.
With both teams scoring three tries each, it was the successful penalty kicks by Daventry’s fly-half that made the difference on the day.
Town started well and, after securing the ball from a scrum, Will Shields executed a good pass to fly-half Conall Mason. With a planned move Callum Lewis, off his left wing, burst through the middle at pace to open the scoring under the posts and, with Mason converting, Spalding had a 7-0 lead.
The hosts kicked two penalties to get themselves back in contention and then, with the penalty count stacking up against Town, Daventry’s fly-half made some excellent kicks to touch, gaining 50 meters.
Spalding were under pressure, from a scrum from ten metres out, Daventry scored under the posts.
They then moved 13 points clear when a maul was established. Driving for the try line the maul collapsed, but the referee penalised Spalding captain Luke Turner with a yellow card and gave the home team a penalty try.
The start of the second half saw both teams battling hard and, as the game progressed, spaces were starting to appear.
Spalding capitalised, spreading the ball along the backs with centre Jack Patrick making inroads and right wing Ben Shields coming into his own with a couple of good runs.
Then Daventry’s number eight floored Mason with what looked like a deliberate elbow to the head as he was about to pass him at pace to launch Spalding’s backs.
Everybody saw the incident, apart from the referee and the Daventry player got away with just a yellow card.
Town, with a one-man advantage, secured a scrum inside the home half. Patrick gained ground and released Gav Sharman to outpace the home team’s defence for another excellent unconverted try.
Five minutes later Spalding had a lineout on Daventry’s five-metre line, with Jordan Templer winning the ball and a establishing a maul.
Spalding drove for the line and Ash Anker was over by the corner flag for an unconverted try, cutting the lead to just three points.
That was extended soon after as Spalding were caught offside and the Daventry penalty sailed between the posts.
From the kick off Ash Piccaver enjoyed a good carry, followed by Sam Noble with a burst through the defence and the move was continued by Miguel da Silva.
Daventry’s defence in attempting to pull da Silva down, dragged him towards the try line with the referee calling tackler release.
As the Town man was released he fell to the floor and over the try line to score – only for the referee to instead penalise Spalding.
Stunned, Spalding were then were caught out by a Daventry break as their right winger found space to score his side’s third try with about five minutes remaining.
The final action came from a field position inside Daventry’s half, with fly-half Mason sending a grubber kick through.
Sharman outpaced the cover defence to touch down only for the referee to award a knock on, again to the disbelief of the Spalding players.
Despite the defeat, Town remain four points off the pace in second and are 12 points better off than Rushden and Higham in third.
Town take on mid-table Luton at home on Saturday (2.15pm).
Spalding RFC: Ash Anker, Miguel da Silva, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, Ash Piccaver, Ed Williams, George Douglas, Sam Noble, Will Shields, Conall Mason, Ben Shields, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Callum Lewis, James Luto. Subs: Tom Parker, MaCauley Crane and Will Stevenson.