SPALDING RFC: Slow start gets punished as Town's title hopes are hit
COALVILLE RFC 1st 16 SPALDING RFC 1st 7
TOWN'S title dreams took as massive hit as they lost this crunch clash on Saturday.
Coalville are now two points clear of Harry Sharman's side at the top of the pile - with a game in hand.
Spalding came into the game off the back of seven straight wins, but they never recovered from a slow first half in Leicestershire.
Anticipation was high among the supporters, but this Midlands Two East (North) top of the table clash did not live up to the hype, writes Geof Nichols.
On a very cold and foggy afternoon Coalville kicked off with the slight slope and gentle breeze in their favour.
Immediately they put their visitors under pressure.
Spalding defended the early onslaught well, with Mark Haighton leading by example.
But it wasn't long before the home side were awarded a penalty in front of the posts - and their kicker had no problem in opening the scoring.
From the re-start Spalding made their first foray into the Coalville half, but it resulted in a long clearance from the defence, taking play deep into the visitors' half.
A penalty to Coalville then resulted in a cross-kick to the opposite wing.
Spalding were prepared for this repeated tactic, with Ryan Chappell defending the penalty.
But the ball bounced totally in the opposite direction to what was expected, leaving a relatively easy try for the home side.
The conversion was completed to give Coalville a ten-point lead with only a quarter of the match gone.
But Spalding were certainly not going to allow their bad luck spoil their day.
For the remainder of the half they kept to their task and started to make their presence felt in the Coalville half.
On two occasions the ball was loose, allowing skipper Sharman and also Haighton to plough through, causing problems for the home side.
Sharman's play took his side into the five metre area, but the resulting line-out was won by the defence who, as usual, cleared the ball well into the Spalding half.
Spalding commenced the second half by changing Ben Williams for Rob Lucas at scrum-half.
They kicked deep into the Coalville half and were soon putting pressure on their opponents - resulting in a penalty. However, youngster Lawrence Rayner saw his effort drift just wide.
It was Coalville who had the next chance and from a break down their left wing they were awarded another penalty. Their kicker had no problem in converting.
The match continued in a similar vein, with many interruptions for penalties.
However, Spalding's best move of the afternoon was to come.
They won the ball in their own half and moved swiftly towards their right side and winger Rob Howliston.
He still had plenty of work to do, but ran in from 40 metres out to cross the line in the corner.Rayner then had his best kick of the afternoon from near the touchline, sending the ball straight through the uprights to lift the spirits of the team and supporters alike.
In the final minutes it was Town who were applying the pressure and although they conceded another penalty, it was the visitors who ended the game on the front foot.
Although under pressure for the majority of the match, Spalding held their heads up throughout the crucial clash and only just failed to add another score before the full time whistle.
With Market Rasen also winning, Town are now outsiders for promotion.
Town: Harry Sharman (skipper), Andrew Branton, Wes Cope, Peter Shakespeare, Mark Haighton, Tom Duerden, Ben Hausermann, Harry Brown, Rob Lucas, Lawrence Rayner, Tom Gosling, Adam McHugh, Ryan Chappell, Rob Howliston, Jim Williams, Peter Waudby, Ed Duerden, Ben Williams.
Saturday - Spalding RFC v Melton Mowbray RFC.
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Weather for Spalding
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
