RFU Midlands Intermediate Cup Semi Final - Spartans 25, Old Silhillians 25.

A large crowd at Coppice Lane witnessed a truly epic cup encounter between two sides keen to play good rugby in grey and damp weather, and despite much ambition from both sides, deadlock was the end result.

The opening stanza was a very cagey affair with both forwards and backs sizing each other up, with 'Sills showing potential out wide now and again and Spartans playing an even handed solid approach. Both sides sensed this was to be a tense affair and each missed a penalty, but first blood went to Spartans as Tom Hardy found his sights. The home side used the ball well and spent plenty of time in their opponent's half, but 'Sills continued to threaten and on the half hour a charged down kick saw them awarded a try, and minutes later a high ball was retrieved and the visitors crossed again. 'Sills showed all their higher league experience and Spartans were on the ropes at this point but hung on until half time to turn round 14 - 3 down.

The second half began very well for 'Sills as a hack through saw the ball run nicely for them and pressure turned into points with three more from the boot, but the Men In Black showed great determination to force the visitors into some cynical play which cost them a red card. Spartans created a wonderful try of their own to make it 8 - 17, but then another mistake saw 'Sills pounce for a third try to restore a fourteen point gap. As time ticked away the home forwards dug deep and under pressure 'Sills were now committing more offences than the Great Train Robbers, earning another yellow card but crucially giving away no points. Spartans saw their chance and with just ten minutes left worked a clever try under the posts, then with 'Sills back up to fourteen men had to go for it all over again. Some do or die play saw umpteen phases before Michael Blair crossed the whitewash, and the Hardy conversion sent the game into extra time.

Ten minutes each way after an eighty minute slog saw both sides still ambitious as the ball still got thrown about and both sides should be congratulated for their commitment to such an even contest. Spartans held the lead at the turnaround after bagging a penalty but 'Sills did likewise to level it, and a desperate stalemate ensued. With time dead 'Sills were again penalised but Spartans were far out of kicking range and a well organised defence kept the scores level, leaving only the competition regulations to separate the sides.