Biggleswade RUFC

Biggleswade 2nd XV 5 - 5 Bishop Stortford Abbots 

The second team were back in league action again against familiar foes Bishops Stortford. Last season the sides met twice, with each team winning their respective home games.

Bishops started the brighter with a direct driving game gaining early territory. After briefly holding out, the Biggleswade defence were forced into their own 22 and after several pick and gos a space appeared to give the visitors the lead.

Following this, Biggleswade upped their game and started stringing some phases together. Cameron Plant, having nailed all his kicks in his previous game, was unlucky to see a penalty kick from the 10 metre line just fall short.

Further transgressions from the visiting team allowed Biggleswade to go to their lineout game, almost going over twice only to be frustratingly denied. A determined Biggy went back to the lineout only for a dropped ball to allow Bishops to regain possession.

Biggleswade continued to dominate possession and territory. Luke Fye in particular looked dangerous in his new position of fullback, but he couldn’t find a way through.

With a chance to recharge and regroup Biggleswade went up a gear in the second half. Trevor Richardson and Jack Mulholland-Dear were both to the fore in terms of defensive effort and stealing ball back for the home side.

With increasing amounts of possession Biggy looked the most likely to score next. After some great hands in the backs, Dan Rogers showed fleet of foot to work his way down into the 5 metre channel and power his way over. With the conversion missed, the score was 5-5 with the next points looking like the killer blow for whichever team could strike them.

Attack after attack saw Biggleswade repelled or an error creep in. After one barnstorming break, Mulholland-Dear was on hand to provide a support line but was denied by the base of the post, whilst further lineout drives were stopped short of the line.

With playing time up Bishops had possession in the Biggleswade 22, but another turnover saw Biggy break and charge upfield.

Bishops were then penalised just outside their 22 and Plant stepped up to take a shot at goal only for his kick to drift slightly to the left. As the ball came down, a Bishops player knocked on, with Jimmy Young on hand to dot the ball down, sparking jubilant celebrations on and off the pitch. However it was not to be, as the referee blew up for a knock on from a Biggy player and the try was chalked off.

Overall Biggleswade deserved the win and can only look back and think about several tries which should have been. But another good performance and several more new players making their debuts proved that the second team are going from strength to strength.

Next week the 2nds host Letchworth 3rds in a rearranged league match.