A late flurry of tries sealed victory for Old Northamptonians against a strong Spalding side.
This was a much improved performance by the ONs and it needed to be as Spalding were keen to build on their emphatic win over Paviors.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges and although the ONs led 13-9 at half-time and scored just after the restart, it wasn’t until four tries in a 15-minute spell as the game entered the final quarter, that the game was made safe.
For the first 15 minutes the ONs barely touched the ball or entered the opposition half.Two successful kicks from Dave Hankinson,the build-up to the second of which also resulted in a sin binning for the ONs, gave Spalding a 6-0 lead.
A lineout following a penalty to touch was driven on by the ONs pack and although Spalding managed to kick clear, Matt Love ran the ball back and his pass put Rory Seymour over.
Try number two quickly followed, scored by Kieran O’Connor, after Tom Holliday, Jake Spencer and Jack Rose had made initial inroads.
Tom Goodman added a penalty to stretch the ONs lead before he became the second player to receive a yellow card.Hankinson was successful with the ensuing kick to take the score to 13-9 at the break.
Spalding had also received a yellow card on the stroke of half-time and with the ONs restored to 15, they took full advantage when Holliday was driven over from a lineout and the score remained at 18-9 until just before the final quarter began.
After an excellent take by Sam Howes from a throw in the ball was swiftly moved across the field and Spencer brushed off three would-be tacklers and raced 30 metres for the bonus-point score.
Hankinson’s fourth penalty kept Spalding in touch until three further tries in quick succession made the game safe for the ONs.
Chris McKee was the first over. The attack started under the ONs posts and accurate passing, off-loading and support play from Greg Mathers, Ralph Rainbow, Ash Fullthorpe, Dan Napier and Love amongst others moved the ball fully 80 metres for McKee to finish.
O’Connor was next, catching his chip over the onrushing defence on the full to sprint in and when a Spalding attack, again deep in ONs territory, was stopped, the ball was turned over and Seymour sped clear and his well-timed pass gave Love a simple try.
A third yellow reduced the ONs to 14 and Spalding hooker Craig Dowse powered over from close range, Hankinson converting to make it 38-19.
Revenge for Towcester as Paviors are beaten
Towcestrians secured revenge as they saw off Paviors in a hard-fought 23-17 victory at Greens Norton Road.
After being on the receiving end of a 40-point throbbing in Nottingham earlier this season, Tows rectified matters on Saturday.
Tows found themselves under pressure early on in the game as their scrum was penalised for a Paviors fly-half to slot the penalty.
Tows came back with a penalty which was kicked into the corner. The lineout was gathered, which produced pressure so that the backs could be released.
David Williams broke through to score under the posts and with Yuill and Falvy missing, Pepe Nanci converted.
Tows’ scrum dissatisfed referee May Barnards, resulted in two more penalties that were slotted by the Paviors’ fly-half, as he edged his team into the lead.
Chrissie George’s yellow card did not help Tows’ cause but a Nanci penalty pushed them into a 10-9 lead.
Paviors always looked to spread the ball through their half-backs, excellently exploiting George’s absence with the best try of the game running from deep with players in support to score brilliantly wide out.
Craig Holton got Tows back in front, crashing over directly from a lineout. The score was now 15 -14.
Tows then lost George to a second yellow card to go down to 14 men.
The scoreline seesawed into Paviors’ favour as they smashed another penalty through the uprights.
The lead didn’t last long however as Nanci replied with a penalty.
Tows, now with only 14 men, shocked Paviors with scrum half Dave Stocks forcing his way over from a quickly-taken penalty.
The last act of the game was the red-carding of Paviors’ influential fly-half. This was the second red card in a game that was hard yet fair.
Tows’ second string beat Old Scouts IIs 34-22, while the colts triumphed 58-24 at BBOB.
Rusty Brackley are back on song
Three unanswered tries in the first half and nine in the second told the story in Brackley’s comfortable 74-0 win at Wellingborough Old Grammarians.
Not having played a competitive game of rugby in six weeks, Brackley took a while to get into their stride, but once they clicked they proved too strong for their hosts, despite some dogged defence from OGs’ much improved pack.
Brackley coach Matt Titchener said: “After we’d knocked the rust off the wheels, we were motoring.
“I thought the running lines and handling in the second half were truly outstanding.”
Brackley stay top of Midlands 4 East (South), seven points in front of St Ives in second.
Brackley’s league campaign continues next week when they are on the road again, this time to Corby.
The home side have been having a tough time this season with just one win and a draw in 17 league matches.
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