Warwickshire Shield 1st Round - Spartans 59, Leamington 17.

Two Warwickshire sides served up an entertaining game in the warm September sunshine at Coppice Lane as the season proper started, and it was Spartans who progressed to the next round.

The home side got off to a flier with two very early long range tries from the backs to stun Leamington, but the visitors showed their class and began to dominate territory and possession. The outstanding Leamington Captain began to pull the strings and a neat move down the right saw them grab one back. Given the size and power of the blue forwards, Spartans did well to produce some useful ball and some excellent support saw a vital try to restore the gap, but once more Leamington responded with a huge forward steaming through a tackle to score. Further running rugby from the Men In Blackproduced another team try to be pleased with, but this truly end to end Barbarian game saw a third try for Leamington shortly before half time, with an unlikely eleven point lead for Spartans mainly down to conversions.

The second half began with Leamington fired up and Spartans were forced to defend for a while as the visitors tried to batter their way through a determined black defence. Eventually the siege was lifted and Spartans counter attacked quickly and effectively, using the spaces they were offered very well. Two more tries were run in from distance but Leamington were never going to quit, and each time they responded with their own brand of robust rugby. As confidence grew in the Spartan ranks the visitors were making mistakes as they chased the game, which Spartans duly punished with some crisp passing and clinical finishing to gradually pull away on the scoreboard with three more team tries to complete an all round team performance, albeit with a flattering scoreline.

This week Spartans face Ludlow at Coppice Lane for the first time in many years due to a league re-organisation. (3pm).