Tabard 2nd XV 12-19 Biggleswade 2nd XV
After several postponements, which saw the 2nd XV lose their top spot in the league, it was back to action away at Tabard on Saturday.
Injuries and illness meant some regular squad members were missing, so there were club debuts for Dylan Fraser and Max Schuster, alongside several 3rd team call-ups.
Biggy were unlucky to miss out on a try and a penalty kick early on after a promising start. Tabard’s big pack were hammering away at the Biggleswade door, and Biggy indiscipline gave away territory and possession, allowing the home side to take a 7-0 lead.
Tabard continued to throw their strong runners straight at the Biggleswade defence. However, the 2nd team stayed resolute and there was to be no further breach in the first half.
Half time allowed Biggy to reset and focus on reducing the number of penalties given away and to attack with greater width.
Tabard though had other ideas and after a storming run, taking advantage of some missed tackles, they extended their lead to 12-0.
Biggleswade came back hard, improving discipline and reversing the pattern of the first half, with the home side now haemorrhaging penalties instead. The Biggy scrum caused all sorts of problems for Tabard - with Dave Leslie scoring from scrum turnover on the 15m line, and Luke Haverly converting
Biggleswade spurned several opportunities and had to be patient. Tabard slowed the game down to give energy back to their tiring pack, but Biggy’s fitness showed. Despite crossing the whitewash several times, they just couldn’t get the score and it looked like time was running out.
Jack Davidson was put through a hole to score underneath the sticks with eight minutes left. But then two penalties in the row allowed Tabard to creep closer to Biggy’s line. Frantic defence saw a turnover to set Davidson free on the 22. With a sprint to the finish line Davidson evaded chasing defenders to score the match-winning try for Biggy with a minute left on the clock.
Biggleswade showed composure to hold out and with Dave Leslie winning a penalty the ball was sent to touch.
Attention now turns to the biggest game of the 2nd’s team season when they host Weston, the only team they have lost to in the league this season, at Langford Road this coming Saturday. Whichever side wins will gain the upper hand in the race for promotion.
