High-scoring friendly fun for Biggy

It was a high scoring game, Spalding winning 45-26, although if the rule ‘last try wins’ applied Biggleswade were the victors!

But in truth it was rugby and fellowship in the game that won the day. The match came about on a blank day from league demands because former first team captain Julian “Jules” Davis now plays for Spalding. Your correspondent was team manager in those distant days.

Biggleswade fielded a mixed side with players from all teams including a few with current first team experience. They have asked not to be identified!

There were others who made their first team debut decades ago but with the elixir of youth are turning out more or less every week.

It took some time for Biggleswade to get going with a combination of missed tackles, much younger legs and a wide pitch leading to regular scores for the hosts, But Biggleswade finally found their bearings and started to make the home team work harder for their points.

The forwards started the move with some clinical inter-passing that showed the earlier fumbles were just nerves and chilly fingers. The move was carried on by Andrew “Stubby” Applegate who gave a perfectly timed and weighted pass to Alec ‘Twinkle Toes’ Cochrane He did the rest with a try under the posts which he converted himself.

Turning round at half-time trailing by seven points to forty it was clearly time for an inspiring pep talk from the skipper, a large dose of sanatogen or divine intervention. So whether it was “once more into the breach dear friends” or “We’re going through hell right now so keep going” or just a variation on pull your finger out the second half was nearly all Biggleswade.

Spalding stretched their lead with another try before there was divine support of a kind in the form of a yellow card for Jules Davis, Spalding’s number eight. He was judged guilty of straying deliberately off-side to prevent a Biggleswade score. The Biggleswade pack got a big drive on and the key man was Kyle Loan who did the necessary from the base of the scrum.

These scores and a liberal interpretation of the replacement rule which saw Biggy players coming and going at regular intervals saw the visitors getting the upper hand. Biggleswade piled on the pressure and had Spalding wilting in the sunshine.

Even when giant lock Ian Flack needed a breather the Biggleswade pack was still on fire with another pushover try. Urged on by the ever youthful James Young at scrum half the pack raised their game to new heights around the park. Even Stubby was seen to break into a trot!

The pressure with assistance from the referee who found several reasons to award penalties in the closing moments saw another try from Kyle Loan for a hat-trick.

The final whistle went after the successful conversion from Alec Cocharne and the players retired to the bar

But your correspondent slipped away to get the train home so cannot report on any activities in the bar post-match!