Spalding 25 – 10 Market Harborough
Harborough’s hopes of gaining their 3rd successive promotion were dashed when they were well beaten by a resolute and well organised Spalding team. The game was played in almost perfect conditions in front of a very large crowd but it was the home team supporters who had most reason to cheer as their team took charge early in the game. Without a recognised hooker Harborough held their own in the set scrum and sometimes looked to be gaining an advantage but their line-out never properly functioned and they often conceded possession to the hosts.
Two early penalty chances for the home team were wasted before Michael Goode was penalised for tackling the man in the air following a 22 drop-out. The penalty was correctly awarded and successfully converted to give Spalding the lead but the issuing of a yellow card seemed severe and gave the home team a numerical advantage which they did not waste. Harborough continued to struggle to put any meaningful moves together and fell further behind to a try following a catch and drive from an attacking line-out.
Harborough rallied and enjoyed a brief spell of territory and possession and although they were unable to gain a much needed try Ed Bale converted a penalty after one of the home team players had killed the ball at a ruck which earned him a yellow card. Unfortunately for Harborough this score was immediately cancelled out as the referee adjudged Ben Pain guilty of a similar offence giving the home team kicker the opportunity to kick the penalty.
The momentum of the game suggested that Harborough needed to score first in the second half to properly get into the game but it was not to be. With Spalding still enjoying the significant advantage in the line-out they capitalised on this better possession to control the territory. An infringement by Ed Bale earned him a yellow card and when Pain was also side lined for a rucking offence Harborough were reduced to thirteen men. Try as they did Harborough could not withstand a period of intense pressure from Spalding who extended their lead with a well worked try. The home team effectively killed the game with another well executed try midway through the second half but then followed Harborough’s best spell of the game. With scrum half Dan Bailey working tirelessly and the ever forthright Michael Woodford powering into the home team defenders the opposition were given a brief taste of what might have been. Towards the end of the game Harborough lay siege to the Spalding line and eventually earned some reward when Paul Percival crossed for a try under the posts which was duly converted by Bale.
Although there was disappointment with the result the Harborough players can take satisfaction from their achievement of finishing in second place in a very competitive league.