Pinley 17, Spartans 24.

With spring in the air and a warm sun on their backs, Spartans travelled to an unusually dry Pinley and came away with more league points in the bag from a hard fought encounter.

Spartans were given a welcome to match the weather as the home players got stuck in to them and it was clear from the start it was going to be a very physical contest, but with Pinley on the attack an interception allowed Spartans to race home from eighty metres to take the lead. Incensed, Pinley once again used their big strong forwards to reinforce their game plan but indiscipline saw Tom Hardy land a penalty for a ten point advantage. Some very robust play up front saw Pinley back in the game with a well struck penalty and with the whistle punctuating play nothing really flowed but Spartans added another penalty and on the stroke of half time Pinley claimed a try as their big forwards flopped over from close range.

The second half began where the first left off; a stop/start affair as the penalty count went through the roof and a huge amount of stoppage in play for lectures and physio time. With Spartans trying to move the ball and Pinley not, the contrasting styles of play were noticeable and at last the black backs were able to race up the left to score in the corner. Another couple of lapses in discipline allowed Tom Hardy to bag two more penalties but once again Spartans found themselves under the cosh as the home side turned to their large and vocal support for the final quarter. Pinley's forwards edged over from close range to make it a one score game and a frantic finale saw Spartans forced to man the barricades until the nineteen minutes added time eventually ran out.

This week Spartans host Dunlop at Coppice Lane for their penultimate league fixture, kick off 3pm.