Wisbech Vets XV took on Spalding in an entertaining game of rugby

Wisbech Vets XV took on Spalding in their final game before Christmas.

Vets skipper Greg Brownlow was able to assemble a squad of 23 players aged over 30 while the Spalding squad drew from a wider age range.

Ben Chapman was involved in many of the early Wisbech attempts to break the visitors' line and he left the pitch to get a cut to the head dressed after 15 minutes.

Spalding then scored the first try of the game, which was converted.

Going behind spurred the home side on and the Wisbech pack asserted itself in scrums and mauls. Nat Humphreys was impressive, and Wisbech eventually got their reward when the forwards combined for Josh Anderson to force himself over to score a try converted by full back Mark Laws. Spalding scored another converted try to make the score 14-7 at the break.

Greg Brownlow brought on substitutes, and the Men in Red scored through James Patrick-but the try which went unconverted. Spalding's response was to switch tactics to a kicking game hoping to make use of their energetic chasers and exploit the wet conditions. This approach paid off when a difficult bounce allowed a Spalding player to run for try which was converted to put the home side 11 points behind.

The Vets responded well to the setback and centre Jon Turner put them on the front foot. A series of penalties by the visitors gave Wisbech the opportunities to apply pressure, and Ramos Vinksna barrelled over for a try with Laws converting to pull back seven points.

This was to be the last score by the Vets, and the visitors' narrow 19-21 lead became a more comfortable margin final score of 19-42 to the Spalding RFC XV.

The Wisbech Vets showed off a wealth of rugby talent and real enthusiasmin in all aspects of the game, which they hope will feed the appetite of the players to play again in the New Year. They paid thanks to Spalding for the game.