Spartans winning run comes to an end.

With competition for shirts at an all time high selection was not easy for skipper Ben Dockery. The match day squad consisted of Ryan Devine, Harry Owen and John Lewis in the front row with Ally Eyre and Dan Wayne in the engine room. Tim Barthram moved to number 8 in place of the injured Gassey with Will 'Hairdryer' Sanders and Spencer Kite on the flanks.

Luke Spears moved to scrum half with Josh Atkins at fly half, Jamie Humpage and Dockery partnered in the centres with a back three of Joe Lucas, Jack Hughes and Matt Perry.

A late illness for Joe Madden moved him to the substitutes bench along side Dale Jones, Daryl Williams and Brett Garbett.

It was clear from the start that this would be a difficult afternoon for Spartans as the man on the gate proclaimed that the 1st and 2nd teams were at home for Broadstreet, a club sat on the top of National 3 and sharing training facilities with Wasps. The program stated the same and the starting XV for the home side did not include a single familiar face from the previous league encounter where Spartans ran out comfortable winners.

As expected Spartans were on the back foot for the first quarter with Broadstreet running in two early tries through their back line. The frustration of this fixture mismatch as well as the thought of the fine winning run coming to an end could have seen the men roll over and submit to their far superior opponents but Twos did quite the opposite.

At 14-0 down it was clear what would get Spartans back into the game. With two 6'5" line out jumpers to content with Barthram was doing his upmost to secure clean line out ball and the home side clearly had the upper hand in the back division but up front, in the tight muddy close quarters, the Spartans men were putting their National League hosts to shame.

The front row, now including Jones, were having a field day in the scrum and winning penalties all afternoon whilst the likes of Wayne and the ever improving Sanders were carrying with great effect. Spartans had found a bit of momentum and with dogged determination found themselves camped in the home side 22. Despite awarding multiple penalties the referee kept his cards in his pocket as Lewis and Devine systematically destroyed their opposing front row. Finally the pressure told and as the referee blew for a penalty try just before Spears could touch down at the back of the scrum.

The second half followed the same pattern, an early score for Broadstreet then a prolonged period of even sparring, despite the difference in weight class. Spartans pack were really pressurising the scrum and it was choking the home sides supply to their backs thus reducing their effectively. The men were working very hard in the loose to break the well drilled defence but it was not easy. Matt Perry was having a busy afternoon from full back fielding kicks and defending with great skill and determination whilst Spears and Atkins were marshalling their attack well.

As the game entered the last quarter the fitness levels of the home side were showing. With some injuries and reshuffles in the backs the gaps were starting to appear as Broadstreet ran in two further tries in the wide channels. Man for man Spartans defence was excellent as they held out the home side for prolonged periods of time with some huge hits but the space and their ability to execute was where they were eventually undone.

The final phases of the game were won by Spartans though as they ended they ended on a high. A penalty nudged into the corner by Madden gave the pack chance to do what they do best. A pin point throw by Jones found Barthram and the pack rumbled into the 22. The home side defence crumbled as they were penalised for collapsing the maul. A series of penalties followed, Spartans had the chance to utilise the blindside but could not release the ball as the Broadstreet openside lay on the wrong side of the ruck conceding a cynical penalty. This time Spartans went back to the scrum and again man shamed their opponents splintering their defensive drive as the rumbled forwards. The referee again ran under the posts and awarded the penalty try. Spears converted to close out the game with a highly respectful score line of 33-14.

Ironic cheers and jeers from the home side did not phase Spartans as they celebrated their final try, in fact they were fairly amusing as the National 3 side had just had their scrum demolished by a Mids 2 amateur outfit. Spartans, despite being disappointed by the nature of the defeat, can take great pride in their gutsy performance against a side that, on paper, should have been 80 points to the good.

The backs gave their all against an opposition bursting with speed, size and skill but it was the forwards that kept them in the game with a monumental effort in the tight and the POG Award was quite rightly awarded to John Lewis for a massive performance at tighthead prop.

The Twos now have a break from league rugby until the 11th of March when the make the trip to Old Wheatleyans and look to get their league captain back on track.