The Spalding players gave their all in really poor wet and windy conditions as they returned home with a losing bonus point after an 18-13 defeat at Market Rasen and Louth on Saturday.

As the team descended the Lincolnshire Wolds for the Counties One Midlands East (North) clash, you could see the mist lying in the valley and it would be an afternoon of continuous rain and strong blustery winds.

In such challenging conditions, both teams fought out a close and competitive game with the outcome always in the balance.

After a long injury spell and an outing for the 1923s, there was a welcome return for lock Tom Moxon, Ollie Sorrell was on the wing following his hat-trick last week in the seconds while Henry Duce was back from university to feature at inside centre.

With home advantage, Rasen started the brighter by using their back row with strong carries to put Spalding on the defensive with back row Elliot Humphreys and Ryan Firth making good tackles.

Another Rasen carry saw Henry Hobson tackle high, and for the first offence of the afternoon, brought a yellow card.

Rasen capitalised by kicking for touch and secured lineout ball and drove over the try line to open the scoring.

Both teams were having difficulty with a wet and slippery ball, resulting in knock-on's followed by scrums, with Rasen having the edge in the first half, but gradually led by Spalding’s front row of Parker, replaced later by Broome, Anker and Newbery, the tables were turned.

With 20 minutes played, and with Rasen on the attack, a kick through to the in-goal area was touched down by the home team, and with a conversion, a 12-point lead was on the scoreboard.

Spalding were having good spells in attack but the cutting edge and final pass were not coming off.

However, the battle at the breakdown was resulting in penalties being conceded and Willis Ingleby stepped forward with two successful kicks.

The outstanding play of the afternoon was then delivered by Spalding’s backs.

Launched by a good pass out from a ruck by scrum half Jim Wraith following a good carry from Moxon, Ingelby and Duce combined to release Ollie Machin to slice through Rasen's backs at pace for a brilliantly worked try, and with the conversion, Spalding were ahead by a point at 12-13 at half-time.

With the strong wind slightly favouring Rasen in the second half, Spalding knew that teamwork and spirit would be the order of the day to resist the home team.

And battle they did, restricting the home team to two successful penalty kicks, holding up a couple of driving mauls from lineout possession and winning several vital turnovers at rucks.

Spalding’s scrum was also holding its own, again winning one or two vital penalties as Rasen wheeled around, especially in the last 10 minutes as the Elephants clung on.

Rasen has always proved a difficult place for Spalding, so to come away with anything speaks volumes for the effort the players put in with such challenging conditions.

Spalding: Tom Parker, Ash Anker, Alex Newberry, Tom Moxon, Henry Hobson, Ryan Firth, Elliot Humphreys, Harry Ole, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Gav Sharman, Henry Duce, Ollie Machin, Ollie Sorrell, Charlie Beecham. Subs: Connor Broome, Ryan Meldock Tom Parker-McGee.

Spalding have a double-header at Centenary Park on Saturday as they both the first and second teams host Mellish in league matches.