The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding 39
Biggleswade 17
Spalding’s stunning undefeated run continued on Saturday with a convincing bonus point win.
Visitors Biggleswade had the spectators worried early in the second half as they scored two tries playing good aggressive rugby, but Spalding weathered the visitors’ revival and widened their lead towards the end of the game
This was Biggleswade’s first league visit to the Memorial Ground having been promoted last season as runaway winners earning promotion to Counties Two East (South).
They started with the confidence of league champions pinning Spalding back in their own half for the opening 15 minutes, showing they had a good scrum but with Tom Parker, Ash Anker and Miguel Da Silva in Spalding’s front row they would meet their match as the game progressed.
Fifteen minutes into the game, Ash Piccaver broke from near his own try line and with pace and strength continued his run breaking several Bigglewade tackles, releasing a pass to left winger Harry Hudson.
He made a pass back inside to supporting runner Gav Sharman to finish the move for the opening try, with fly half Conall Mason converting.
Spalding were now into their stride, pressing Biggleswade back deep into their half, with young flanker Ed Williams demonstrating again his turnover skills at the breakdown.
With a big carry from Sam Noble supported by his fellow forwards, Spalding were over the try line but held up.
The goal line kick by Biggleswade saw Harry Brown catching the ball on the full, brush a couple of tackles aside, to score under the posts and, with a conversion, Spalding were 14 points up.
From the kick off, Biggleswade had Spalding pinned back deep in their own half.
Good defensive tackles were coming and from a ruck won, scrum half Will Shields passed back to Mason to clear to touch.
Biggleswade’s lineout jumpers secured possession and with the ball flowing along the backs, their left wing was in at the corner.
Shortly afterwards Spalding’s cause was helped when their combative prop kicked the ball away after Biggleswade conceded a crossing offence and was yellow carded. Mason’s good penalty kick, gave Spalding a 12 point lead.
Minutes later George Douglas with a good lineout steal saw Da Silva break free, centre Jack Patrick took a pass to continue the momentum and onto sub Alan Charevicius, having replaced Brown, who drove over the try line with Mason converting.
From the kick off Biggleswade pinned Spalding back deep in their own half and again good defence by Parker, Anker and Sam Noble forced the visitors to seal off at the breakdown and the whistle blew for half time.
Early in the second half it was the visitors who had stepped up and were looking to get back into the game.
Spalding’s defence was holding up but Noble’s tackle was deemed high on the opposition fly half and he was yellow carded.
A penalty kick to touch, possession secured at the lineout and a driving maul, brought success for Biggleswade with a unconverted try.
Spalding became rather ragged being a man down, conceding a number of penalties and Biggleswade again kicked for touch, won lineout possession and a break by the forwards saw them over the try line and ,with a conversion, Spalding’s lead had narrowed to seven points.
The visitors, through their forwards, were now taking the game to Spalding pinning them down in their own half but with the returning Noble the scrum was back up to strength and Spalding’s backs were now able to close down space on the opposition.
Another wave of Biggleswade backs’ attack was in progress but outside centre Gav Sharman intercepted to run clear for a converted try under the posts with 15 minutes left to play.
Spalding’s forwards now exercised more control on the game, with their carries and Andy Fuller on the pitch in the front row having replaced Parker.
Anker was prominent with his drives and Piccaver was finding room to break through.
Spalding were now back on top and it was Da Silva who broke through to score out wide.
The visitors were now under the hammer and the final play of the game, saw them concede a penalty, which Mason converted. The referee then blew for full time.
Spalding remain second in the league as league leaders, Daventry are on a similar run.
In a fortnight Spalding will be travelling to the their ground for the “clash of the leaders”.
Town: Tom Parker, Ash Anker, Miguel Da Silva, George Douglas, Ash Piccaver, Ed Williams, Harry Brown, Sam Noble, Will Shields, Conall Mason, Harry Hudson, Jack Patrick, Gav Sharman, Ben Shields, Callum Lewis.
Subs: Andrew Fuller, Alan Charevicius, Jordan Templer.
