Earlsdon 12, Spartans 18.

With both sides missing several players due to injuries, Spartans took their chance to try a number of new faces and were rewarded by ending Earlsdon's six match winning streak by 18 points to 12.
On a heavy pitch it was a very cagey affair to begin with as the sides tested each other out, with Earlsdon looking lively but Spartans defending well to match any threats. The pitch soon deteriorated and a game of chess in the mud followed, with both teams inhibited by an inability to either push or run. As the really ugly game developed into trench warfare Spartans took the lead from a driven lineout and shortly afterwards managed to string a sequence of running, catching & passing together for a second try that built up a deserved 12-0 lead for half time.
As the second half began Spartans knew they couldn't defend a slender lead in the conditions and the home team showed good spirit and battled all the way, scoring a long range try as tacklers slipped in the mud. Spartans regained some composure and tested the Earlsdon defence to the limit, being held up on two occasions and denied a try against the base of the post on the third. A loss of discipline from Earlsdon gave Tom Hardy two penalty kicks which he duly despatched for Spartans to lead by 18 points to 7 but with two of the home team in the bin 13 man Earlsdon threw caution to the wind and were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. For the final quarter the game was an absolute mudfest making scoring something of a lottery, but with 15 men back on the field Earlsdon were rewarded when they drove over from 10 yards to finish the game 18-12 to the visitors.
The Men In Black will take great heart from this ugly win by a much changed team, but will have to perform a lot better if they are going to stand any chance against Old Silhillians at Coppice Lane this week.