Biggleswade RUFC

St Neots Ladies 22-34 Biggleswade Ladies

Newly-promoted Biggleswade Ladies started their first season at NC2 level in fine style, with a strong win away against St Neots.

Biggy, integrating new players, some returnees, and several players in new positions, needed a tough and focused performance against St Neots, and they delivered in style.

Strong rucking from Biggleswade early on gave centre Lauren Poole an early chance to run in a trademark pitch-length blaster (unconverted).

St Neots fought back to take the lead with a converted try, but Biggy answered back when winger Tash Cooper was let loose, evading two last-ditch covering tackles, her try converted by fly half Charlie Field.

With the score 12-12 at half time, and Sophie Earls off injured, Biggleswade made several changes, but kept up the intensity, never losing the lead, despite a see-saw pattern of them scoring and St Neots responding in kind.

Full back Olivia Wines had an excellent debut for Biggy, and Jemma Langton, moving from the backs to the forwards at short notice, stepped up effectively in the unfamiliar flanker role.

A solid scrum and great pass from Field set up Poole for her second try. Next up was captain Claire Watson - swapping her usual second row shirt for the No 8 for the day - who crossed the line after stand-in hooker Kelly Hodgson set her up with a well-executed 5m lineout play. Both tries were answered tit-fo-tat by St Neots, but in the final quarter of the game Biggleswade’s gas and grit finally allowed them to break the frustrating pattern.

A great chase from the restart saw Poole bundle the catcher into touch, typifying Biggleswade’s fitness and determination.

Returning player Ellie Reeve picked and went from a scrum and presented to Watson who bundled over for her second try. 

The last play of the match saw Reeve support Storm Rae to the line to score her first try for Biggleswade and cue up ‘storming finish’ comments from supporters, with Field kicking the points to seal the victory 22-34 in Biggy’s favour.

Forward of the Match: Jemma Langton (Available to sponsor - new player)

Back of the Match: Olivia Wines (Available to sponsor - new player)

Player of the Match: Lauren Poole (sponsored by TASL)

Action photos by David Kay