Biggleswade 1st XV 32 - 0 Brackley 1st XV
Biggleswade were determined to make the most of the first half of Saturday’s league match, as the wind was in their favour. The received kick-off from the late-arriving Brackley was run straight back into the visitor’s half. Some strong attacking play got the home team within 10 metres of the opposition try line and slick handling skills saw the ball passed right along the back line to the secure hands of Dan Rogers to score the first try.
The restart was almost a mirror of the previous 5 minutes as the Biggy forwards drove Brackley back with some structured close rucking play. Just 5 metres out, Kyle Loan broke from the back of the ruck and crashed towards the line, his long reach enabling him to place the ball over the try line in one sweeping movement as he was tackled. The conversion was added by Elliot Tunstall.
Brackley started to wake up and their defensive play improved as they put the Biggy back line under pressure. Jake Devereaux broke through tackle after tackle making a 30 metre dash towards the try line and was brought down just short but popped the ball to the supporting Luke Gadsby for him to score the third try of the afternoon near the posts. Tunstall converted again to put the Biggy boys 19 points in front after as many minutes.
This shocked the Brackley forwards into action as the remainder of the first half was fought in the centre of the pitch with both teams unable to break through. A penalty awarded within the 22-metre line was slotted over by Tunstall to put the home side 22 - 0 up at half time.
In the second half the visitors came out hoping to take advantage of the wind. They spent the majority of the half trying to break through the Biggy defence but this held strong. The Biggy boys "love to defend!”.
A number of infringements saw a couple of the Biggleswade team sin-binned, meaning the home team were down to 13 men at one point. Great team support and morale ensured that even when under pressure Biggy were able to keep calm and still run in a further two tries through Tom Anderson and Ollie Vagg to finish off the game. Final score was 32 - 0, moving Biggleswade up to 5th in the league.
