A cold, wet, windy and miserable evening

As Kesteven's warm up was drawing to a close, the visiting Spalding team, having arrived late, hadn't even left the warmth of their changing room. The home side returned to the warmth of their own changing room to escape the driving wind, rain and snow where they waited for a good 20 minutes before returning to the pitch for kick off. Whilst warmth and comfort was found for this 20 minutes, declimatisation set in making the return to the pitch even colder.

With 5 players making their 1st team debuts for the 2013/14 season in the form of Veterans Simon Morgan, Mark Dent, Peter Dolan, Ollie Hanson and Jordan Smith joined by Andy Price and Ollie Hanson, Kesteven pulled together some simplified lineout calls and basic moves for the evening.

Although the visiting side had arrived late and only had 10 minutes or so to warm up, there is a reason why Spalding are at the top of the Midlands 2 East (North) league and having been relegated the season before, they certainly seem to be on a mission to prove several points. Kesteven fought bravely with the slippery bar of soap often referred to as a ball and were able to make ground with strong runs from. Mark Dent, Martin Carew, Rob Sheardown, Kieran Taylor and Aaron Whitaker who all succeeded in breaking through the Spalding line on several occasions during the first half. Unfortunately the organisation of the visiting side was such that many of the Kesteven attacks were thwarted fairly quickly especially when support was lagging behind.

A combination of strong runs, particularly from the Spalding back row and Kesteven tacklers slipping off their cold, wet slippery opposition soon set the visitors in front although both sides struggled with the slippery ball and ground conditions resulting in many scrums. Spalding proved to be the dominant force in the scrum area during the first half, pushing the Kesteven scrum backwards and starving the gradually freezing backs of any ball. Several changes were made due to injury and Kesteven eventually found stability in the scrum with winger Andy Price and prop James Cowley taking to the second row.

On several occasions the visiting side were able to sneak through the fringes at the breakdown and it wasn't long before Spalding were in front. Despite said slippery ball and 4 new faces to the pack, the lineout worked fairly well for Kesteven winning their own ball and on occasions spoiling the visiting sides. Kesteven looked dangerous in attack on several occasions but resulting mistakes or lagging support gave Spalding turnover ball and consequent points.

Just before half time and during a storming passage of play for Kesteven both sides had a player red carded. A high tackle on Kesteven's Will Cann resulted in a bit of a disagreement and the opposing Spalding player connected with Will and Will returned the favour before the team mates arrived. Both sides were now down to 14 men. When the whistle blew for half time, both sides dashed to the warmth of the changing rooms.

Matt Harland received treatment for a split eyebrow during the interval, slightly delaying the restart and Kesteven soldiered on. Adam Draper took to the field on the wing and within minutes of joining the snow storm put in several thunderous tackles. Spalding continued to run in the points capitalising on Kesteven's continued defence issues and managed to convert several of their tries despite the hurricane that seemed to be passing through. Phil Jordan had the ice chipped away and he was promoted up the hierarchy from wing to centre but with several injuries and scrum half Simon Morgan's hands and wrists being in need of antifreeze, Captain Rob Sheardown agreed with the Spalding captain to call the game with 10 minutes to go. Man of the match went jointly to Rob Sheardown and Martin Carew???

Kesteven's 1st XV travel to Dronfield this Saturday hoping to put an end to the recent losing run but with injuries and unavailable players, selection will go down to the wire on Thursday night.

Team: Odams, Sheardown (c), Cowlie, Hanson (Dolan 25), Coghill, Dent, Smith (Draper 40), Carew, Morgan, Harland, Taylor, Cann, Goodrich, Jordan, Whitaker (Price 20)