Spartans 21, Earlsdon 13.

In a great advert for the county, two Warwickshire sides produced yet another highly competitive match as the colder weather and earlier kickoff times reminded everyone that rugby is in fact a winter sport.

With both sides having lost to Rugby Lions by a very similar margin, this was always going to be a close game and so it proved as the opening exchanges saw excitement, adventure and a good spirit from both ends of the field. For once it was the home side who were quick off the mark, but tiny mistakes left the game in neutral for the first quarter until a spilled ball in midfield allowed a ruthless Earlsdon to canter home down the left for the opening try of the game. Spartans proved able to respond and from the restart managed to find some ground, but an uber competitive Earlsdon sinned at the high altar of the ruck and Tom Hardy castigated them with a penalty. Towards the end of the half Earlsdon showed great power in midfield through Micky Moore and his two outstanding centres, but Spartans were able to deliver a sermon from the wings as Alex Garbett & Matthew Southam raced home, their tries separated by a well struck Earlsdon penalty to leave it 13 - 3 at the break.

The second half began with plenty of pace, power and skill from both sides as they tested each other once more and with both sides making some coach killing errors an exciting but scoreless period followed. As the Men In Black toiled away lady luck finally arrived and moving the ball across the field from left to right Matthew Southam finished well for his second of the day, followed by a Tom Hardy penalty for a priceless but inadequate thirteen point lead. Back came Earlsdon and once more the midfield combination proved a real handful, costing Spartans a yellow card and a frantic ten minutes camped in their own twenty - two. Something had to give and working the ball left, Earlsdon winger Paddy D'Arcy showed great pace to finish off a sequence of play with a fine try, but crucially the kickable conversion was missed and the home side still had an eight point cushion. As the clock ticked down Earlsdon threw everything including the kitchen sink at the black defence but there was to be no way through and Spartans lived to fight another day.

This week Spartans return to National RFU Cup action with a difficult trip to Camp Hill RFC.