Spartans 3's 48 – 17 Aston Old Edwardian 2’s

Spartans 3’s played their first home league fixture of the new season by entertaining Aston Old Edwardian 2’s. Boyed by their victory the previous week against Yardley & District, Spartans were in confident mood, but a number of new faces into the team meant that there was no place for complacency in a game against very well drilled and capable opposition.

Led from the front by Captain Indomitable himself, Justin “Juddy” Smith, Spartans started on the front foot, getting the early tackles in, harrying the breakdown and making good territory from both the backs and forwards. It wasn’t long before Spartans found themselves deep in the AOE’s half, and a powerful run from Dan Reeves opened the scoring with the first of his two tries. Further tries followed as the aggressive defence from the Men In Black gave the opposition no chance to find their way into the game. Good vision and quick thinking allowed Jon Townsend to grab a quick brace. Dan Cosens powered over for the first of his 2 tries and new boy Will Sanders got in on the act with a barracking charge through the centre. Fly Half Anthony Hodgetts kept the score board ticking over by converting the majority of the tries.

The set piece was working well with the home side scrummaging strongly to pressurise the Aston pack and line out, restricting their backs and allowing the Spartan defence so press and snuff out any chance of front foot ball. Indeed, the half ended without Aston troubling the score with Spartans 5 tries to the good.

A rallying call from Aston meant they started much stronger in the second half, but with Juddy inspirationally keeping the Spartans motivated, there was little sign of complacency, as the home side opened the scoring in the second half. Changes to personnel were made, but the course of the game did not. Even when Aston finally got their act together with their big pack creating some go forward momentum to score three second half tries, Spartans rallied, scoring further tries through Dan Reeves, Anthony Hodgetts and Dan Cousens after a mazy 60 yard run (Most of it sideways!), and Juddy always at the fore, getting around the pitch in a manner that belies his 40 (ish) years.

Spartans finished convincingly as 48 – 19 winners. Man of the Match was strongly contested with a number of powerful performances, but new boy Will Sanders was deservedly awarded that honour after an outstanding display of offensive and defensive rugby.

Juddy, along with the rest of the Spartans 3’s would also like to thank Emma Sly who stepped up at the last minute to ref the game.

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