Warwickshire Cup Quarter Final

Spartans 26, Balsall & Berkswell 27.

With Spartans' National Cup game cancelled by Dronfield's withdrawal, the county cup took place and in a close encounter the Men In Black came up inches short of a surprise result.

A downpour of biblical proportions as the game started saw Spartans playing with the tide, but B & B used their higher league status and experience well to counter an ambitious but perhaps naive approach from the home side. Spartans did not recognise the conditions and tried to play their own special brand of rugby, and when the inevitable mistakes happened they were punished by a seasoned B & B side. At three tries down in the cold and wet life looked pretty miserable, but continued enterprising play from the blackness saw a try added and a half time score of 7 - 24.

The second half saw Spartans adjust their ambitions and a methodical approach was rewarded with an early try from the black forwards to puncture the visitors cushion. Attempting to restore normality, B & B resorted to a direct approach but the home defence stood firm despite some scary moments. The visitors suffered further embarrassment when a penalty try was awarded and suddenly the momentum was back in black. Pure graft saw hard won ball put to good use and with young winger Cameron Holland scoring his 2nd try in two games, with four minutes left Spartans were still searching for the winning score. Time, however, waits for no - one and the upset never quite happened but this encouraging performance gives Spartans hope for a tough test when they return to league action this week.