Biggleswade 17 Spalding 13
Spalding travelled to second place in the league Biggleswade, who were having an excellent start in Counties 1 Midlands East (South) league having gained promotion last season.
With Tom Rollinson making his first start of the season at hooker, and a welcome for newcomer Lachlan Summers at number eight in the pack, Spalding looked to be fielding perhaps their strongest line for this away challenge.
The early exchanges saw both teams looking to impose their style on the game with Biggleswade scrum strong and powerful, whilst in open play Spalding were looking sharper in the backs and with flankers Jack Patrick and Will Shields getting to the breakdown ball the quickest all was set for a tight game.
The first scoring opportunity fell to Spalding with a penalty kick with Willis Ingleby pulling the kick wide after seven minutes and shortly afterwards lock Jordan Templer and a Bigleswade player both received yellow cards as the referee attempted to manage the breakdown area.
Biggleswade strength was certainly in the scrums and captain Luke Turner at prop was having a torrid time against his opposite number but in open play Summers was showing his ball carrying power, breaking tackles and setting up good ruck ball.
This allowed scrum half Jim Wraith to distribute the ball to the backs, with Ryan Firth fairly new to the centre position showing up well.
Finally after 25 minutes saw the first score. A penalty kick to touch by Ingleby five metres out saw George Douglas secure possession and the ball flowed all the way along the back line to left wing Gav Sharman.
Biggleswade defence held firm but Spalding through Alex Worth, on for Templer, and Summers with pick and goes were challenging the try line and finally Douglas drove over.
At half time Spalding had a five-point lead, had been the better team with ball in hand but the home team’s scrum was causing problems as they were starting to get on top.
Biggleswade came out in the second half the brighter and within the first few minutes a penalty for a high tackle and then a converted try in open play following a strong scrum, saw the home team take a five-point lead.
Spalding responded well and it was the forwards who encamped themselves a few metres short of the Biggleswade try line with the home team giving away a succession of penalties.
Using tap and go tactics finally Sam Cowell drove over to equal the score followed shortly afterwards with a successful penalty kick to take a three-point lead.
But in the last quarter Biggleswade were doing all they could to secure a home win put Spalding defence under severe pressure.
A quick tap and go saw the home team’s standout prop charge down the wing straight through two tackles for the winning converted try for another narrow loss for Spalding but with a losing bonus point.
Team: Sam Cowell, Tom Rollinson, Luke Turner, Jordan Templer, George Douglas, Jack Patrick, Will Shields, Lachlan Summers, Jim Wraith, Willis Ingleby, Sam Christie, Ryan Firth, Hendry Duce, Gav Sharman, Ollie Machin. Subs Canham Fraser, Alex Worth, Conall Mason.
lSpalding 2nds took on Mellish 2nds and although the 31-31 draw was a surprise it probably reflected the topsy turvy nature of this encounter which saw the lead change several times before the final conversion, in the dying minutes of the match, of Peter Glanville’s try by Ollie Murdoch rescued some league points for Spalding.
First half tries by Harry Biehler-Birch and Owen Coon, both converted by Murdoch, saw Town draw level after surrendering an early lead to the visitors.
Further scores by Ben Bettinson and a second by Coon, neither converted, gave the home side a lead they might have maintained, however the visitors fought back and looked to be snatching victory before Spalding had the last word.
