Bishop Stortford Abbots 32 - 26 Biggleswade 2nd XV (Friendly)
With no league game there was an opportunity for a club friendly to ensure a trip to the retail park could be derailed for another week.
Due to calls up to the 1st team, injuries, and some players with tickets to the Six Nations, only a bare 15 were available although, encouragingly, several new faces made their debut for the 2nds.
The home side were the first team to score and take advantage of the ring-rustiness of the Biggy defence, who had had a game cancelled the previous week. This was compounded when Stortford scored again, this time with a superb try involving excellent offloading game and support.
Despite going two tries down, Biggy were starting to click and ran in the next four tries.
First, Jacob Martin went over in the corner following a deft grubber from Cameron Plant. This followed some expansive play which saw John Marler shift the ball out and Mike Barker running a superb line to break through.
Ed Rogers soon went over next with classic route one rugby as the forwards ran phases to tire out the defence.
Debut Will Perry, having dominated several collisions, picked up the ball and fended of several players to score under the sticks.
With three tries and two conversions, Biggleswade were in full flow, but they weren’t done yet.
Another attacking play saw Ed Rogers break through an offload to Jack Unite who then recycled the ball quickly with the supporting Rogers going went over the line for another converted try.
The half time break interrupted Biggleswade’s momentum and Bishops’ extra numbers and team cohesion in the second period saw them clock up the scores. Tiring bodies resulted in a few missed tackles and dropped balls from Biggleswade, who fought valiantly but just lacked that cutting edge, despite the attempts of Harry Nowell and several nice runs from another debutant, winger Phil O’Neill.
Despite the loss, the game was played in great spirit and the skill set on show pleased captain Unite. The new players are helping continue to build depth in the sides as the club strives to get back to three regular sides.
Next weekend the 2nds host Bourne IIs in a friendly fixture before the league resumes the following week.
