Biggleswade RUFC

Biggleswade Men’s 1st XV 38-19 Brackley Men’s 1st XV

Hard preparation in training paid off for Biggleswade 1sts on Saturday, as they beat league leaders Brackley to take over top spot.

From the first scrum, Biggy let the visitors know they meant business as they pushed a big Brackley pack off the ball.

The back line followed the forwards’ example with quick defensive line speed and some very physical tackles.

Just five minutes in, Biggleswade’s pack used a planned close-range pick-and-go to make small steps closer to the try line. With the defence drawn in, the ball was spun wide to Ethan Sinclair who dived over in the corner.

Both sides played some good running rugby, before a penalty awarded in front of the posts opened Brackley’s scoring.

The pace and aggression of the game continued with strong play by Biggy as they pinned the visitors into their 22.

Brackley returned the pressure, until some slick handling skills saw Aaron Williams finish off some great supporting play to score under the posts.  

Brackley came back fighting and got themselves another three point penalty.

Strong collisions from both packs ensued until the ball was gathered by Sinclair, who used his trademark footwork and speed to step around three defenders to make it 19-6 at half time.

Biggy upped the intensity in the second half, but the visitors initially absorbed the pressure and capitalised on mistakes to take their third penalty of the day.

The rising penalty count meant the home side dropped to 14 men for ten minutes as a team yellow card was given. Brackley used their additional man to score twice in the space of five minutes.

Biggleswade needed to regroup and show their strength. Back to 15 players, they built pressure by running hard lines to draw the Brackley defence. Del Starling broke off a maul and darted down the blind side saw to score his first try for the club.

Captain Gavin Taylor scored an opportunistic try after gathering the ball from a missed Biggy penalty kick and running in before Brackley realised what was happening.

Biggy were on the front foot. The final blow for Brackley came from a neat box kick over the defence by Matt Morrellee, collected by Williams as he outpaced the retreating visitors for his second try of the game.  

Photo: Carl Wolfenden