Spalding 31 Biggleswade 29
Spalding survived a nail-biting finish to take a second successive bonus-point win.
Biggleswade were 31-17 down before scoring 12 points in the last two minutes, aided by a couple of yellow cards for the home team who had 13 players on the field at the end. A missed conversion proved crucial.
The win lifted Spalding two places up the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) league to eighth.
There was a sizzling opening by Spalding from the kick-off, with the forwards immediately making an impression, taking the ball deep into Biggleswade’s 22 with carries by Lachlan Summers and Zokas Raimondas. From a ruck, Ben Shields, playing scrum-half rather than his normal wing position, zipped the ball out to the backs and centre Willis Ingleby sliced open the visitors’ defence to score by the left corner flag.
In the past, the visitors have gained an advantage in the scrum but with Spalding props Tomas Parker and Sam Cowell and hooker Summers forming a rock-solid front row it was the visitors’ backs who opened up Spalding’s defence after a quarter of an hour, scoring out wide to level.
An end-to-end game then saw fly-half Connall Mason sail through a defensive gap to score by the posts.
Biggleswade’s immediate response put pressure on Spalding’s try line, drawing a yellow card for Ingleby.
Scrum possession on the 5m line very soon turned into a try and at half time Spalding had a narrow two-point lead
Miguel Da Silva replaced Raimondas, slotting in at hooker – resulting in a pack reshuffle for Spalding – but the immediate momentum was with the home team and they pressed for the visitors’ try line. However, the final pass out to Gav Sharman on the wing was intercepted by his opposite number who ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts. And with a simple conversion, Biggleswade had a five-point lead just minutes into the second half.
Spalding then had a purple ten minutes, scoring three tries to ease themselves well clear of the opposition.
With Ingleby enjoying the freedom to run and find gaps in the opposition defence, he again used his speed and an eye for an opening to score. With Mason’s conversion kick bouncing back of the posts, the score remained level.
Flanker Will Shields was causing problems throughout the game with his speed to the breakdown and his carries. He established a Spalding ruck 15m from the try line and the visitors’ guard defence were left standing as Da Silva, arriving in support, spotted a gap and sprinted to touch down. The conversion eased Spalding further ahead.
On the blind side flank, Henry Hobson was having a solid debut for Spalding and again they were making headway against Biggleswade’s defence when Ben Shields showed his pace. As the visitors valiantly defended their try line the ball was touched down under a bundle of defenders.
Right wing Sam Christie was replaced by Henry Duce with a quarter of an hour to go. Biggleswade were battling back towards the end of the game and as Spalding defended their try line Mason was yellow carded. The visitors took immediate advantage to score through their forwards driving over but a fairly simple conversion kick was missed which, as it turned out, would secure a Spalding victory.
Biggleswade then scored a converted try in the last minute with Raimondas back on the field delaying matters and also being yellow carded.
This was a good win for Spalding playing some excellent rugby, but disciplinary indiscretions were nearly costly.
Spalding XV: Sam Cowell, Lachlan Summers, Tomas Parker, Zokas Raimondas, George Brown, Henry Hodson, Will Shields, Jack Grundy, Ben Shields, Conall Mason, Sam Christie, Willis Ingleby, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Harry Brett Subs: Miguel Da Silva, Taylor Crowson, Henry Duce.
l On Saturday, Spalding are away to Old Laurentians – one place below then in the league table – looking for a third win on the bounce.
Pictures by Adrian Smith
