Biggleswade RUFC

Biggleswade Ladies 26 - 14 St Neots Ladies

Biggy Ladies did the double over St Neots with a fiercely-contested home win on Sunday.

After losing to Biggleswade in the first game of the season, St Neots came to Langford Road with payback in mind - but their hopes were dashed by a strong team performance from Biggy.

The home side started well with aggressive turnover, positive carries, and forwards and backs linking effectively.

St Neots hoped to ease pressure with a clearance kick but Biggy’s No 8 Ellie Reeve had different ideas, catching the ball on the run 40 metres out, tearing forward and weaving through a series of defenders to open the scoring. Bex Young converted.

St Neots fought their way into Biggy’s 22, edging closer to the try line and using a well-set maul to force a try, which they converted to level the scores.

Biggleswade responded in kind. Bev Horsefield and Nat Rundle’s aggressive rucking won excellent turnover to set up a great backs move which shipped the ball out wide. Another clearance kick from St Neots was collected by Tash Cooper who made vital metres, and the positive play was rewarded with a quickly-taken penalty by Gina Roby who burst over in the corner for Biggy’s second try (unconverted).

Better possession saw St Neots pile on the pressure just before half time, but Biggleswade’s defence worked together to keep the score at 12-7. Jemma Langton typified the whole side’s determination in the tackle.

After the break Biggy came out prepared to fight for the win. They took the ball in before moving it from one side of the pitch to the other, trying to create gaps to exploit. 

Ange Jones, who’d had to leave the pitch after being winded in the first half (although the physio did point out that it would help if she stopped talking) came back on and made a series of hard tackles.

Captain Lauren Poole took inspiration from fly half Charlie Field’s excellent kicking game with a great clearance kick of her own.

As the clock ticked down, St Neots fought hard and, despite valiant defence from Biggy, got their second try. A conversion meant they were two points ahead - a scoreline Biggleswade simply refused to countenance.

Katie Smith leapt high to steal St Neots line out, passing to Field, who stepped a defender to open the gap and set Poole free for her first try - a trademark pile-driving run through defenders. Young converted and Biggy had three minutes to resolutely protect their lead. Keeping the ball for phase after phase, their patience was rewarded, as Poole broke the line and galloped over for another great try, converted by Young with the last kick of the game.

Final score 26-14.

Photos by David Kay

Forward of the Match: Sarah Barton (sponsored by The BakeHouse)

Back of the Match: Jemma Langton (sponsored by Clophill Preschool)

Coaches Player of the Match: Captain Lauren Poole (Sponsored by TASL)

Best re-enactment of computer game Frogger: Biggleswade Drone Club’s footage of Ellie Reeve dodging St Neots' traffic to score.