Biggleswade RUFC

Biggleswade Men’s 1sts’ first home game of the season gave the big crowd a nail-biting finish at Langford Road on Saturday,

Following last week’s heavy away defeat, Biggy’s squad were keen to put in a good performance against Huntingdon & District in the Counties 2 Midlands East (South) league. Nearly 50 players had turned out for training in the week, signalling Biggleswade players’ determination to meet the challenges of the new league head on.

With the sun shining, and around 40 supporters who’d been well fed and watered at the club’s pre-match lunch providing extra support on the sidelines, the ingredients were all there for a great afternoon’s rugby.

From the whistle, Biggy set up to play fast, expansive rugby, spreading the ball with ease and putting the visitors under the cosh in their own 22. The pressure was rewarded just five minutes in, when Del Tribeck crashed through to score under the posts.

The Huntingdon defence held strong as Biggleswade threw everything at them, moving the ball quickly to attack the wide channels.

Huntingdon then hit back hard with a full pitch sprint by their winger, stopped by a try-saving tackle from Ethan Sinclair just five metres out. Biggy’s defence regrouped and cleared their line. 

A scrum just inside Huntingdon’s half was the foundation for a brilliant team try for Biggy. Slick hands and deep running lines led to great interlinking play between backs and forwards, with Jake Devereux finishing  with a 30 metre dash to the try line, putting Biggy 10-0 ahead.

The next ten minutes saw Huntingdon camp in the home team’s 22, but Biggleswade’s strong defence weathered the attack, with no points conceded.

After Biggy missed some chances, Tribeck managed to find a hole in the Huntingdon defence, collecting a clearance kick to score his second under the posts (converted by Richard Sinclair).

A mistake just in front of the Biggy line saw a home team player sin-binned before Huntingdon scored their first try just right of the posts. Half time: 17-5.

After the break, Biggy - still a player down for the first eight minutes - were held back in their own half, before handling errors and a clearance kick that missed touch resulted in Huntingdon crashing over for their second try, converted from close to the touch line.

Both teams exchanged blows but neither were able to complete that crucial final pass. Huntingdon found rare space on the far wing and their winger ran 70m to score their 3rd try, again converted from long range. Huntingdon were ahead for the first time (17-19).

Skilful handling from the Biggy back line led to Kieran Brasier being stopped just short of the visitors’ try line.  Great forward support drew in opposition defenders until Dom Nott crashed over for Biggy’s bonus point try (converted by Brasier). Biggy were back in front (24-19) with ten minutes to play.

Proving how competitive the league is, Huntingdon did not give up and fought to the end. Their reward was a try on the far touch line in the dying minutes of the game. The missed conversion meant the scores remained level at  24-24.

An entertaining game for the crowd but Biggy boys were left feeling they should have won and had allowed the visitors back into the game.

This Saturday sees Biggy travel away to Luton which promises to be another close match. 

PHOTOS BY DAVID KAY