Spartans 1st Team
Matches
Sat 27 Jan 2018  ·  Midlands 2 West (North)
Spartans (Midlands)
Spartans 1st Team
Tries: T WayneConversions: T HardyPenalties: T Hardy
10
19
Whitchurch
Spartans unable to end league leaders unbeaten run.

Spartans unable to end league leaders unbeaten run.

Alex Garbett29 Jan 2018 - 16:57
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Spartans unable to end league leaders unbeaten run.

Spartans returned to action this weekend at Coppice Lane knowing that a performance akin to last weekend would likely lead to an embarrassment on home soil. The visitors, Whitchurch, unbeaten this season must have been hoping that the Men in Black were still suffering from the Kidderminster hangover, thankfully they were not!

The Spartans started the first half on the forward foot and were quickly in the lead thanks to a Tom Hardy penalty. Sadly the lead was not to last as Whitchurch scored an impressive try from a central scrum with the conversion being put wide. However, this score and the Whitchurch announcement that scrums were their “forte” only spurred the Home team on.

The scrums quickly turned against Whitchurch and Spartans began to make ground around the park. Despite some excellent running lines from the Whitchurch backs, the Spartans defence held up and they continued to pressurise the league leaders. An opportunity finally presented itself in the form of a scrum some 10 yards out. The Spartans scrum powered towards the try line, only to be collapsed half a metre short. However, Ed Lambert was able to retrieve the ball and dive over the line, only for the score to be disallowed amid claims that the ball was held up. Spartans were again similarly aggrieved moments later when a blind side run allowed scrum half Sam Friend to sneak through the side of the ruck and put the ball down over the whitewash, with the referee again deeming the ball to be held up.

At 3-5 at half time the result was still in the balance but it was Whitchurch who ran out winners with two simple scores in the second half. Mistakes in key areas gifted Whitchurch possession and they were clinical with their attacks. Two converted scores followed and effectively put the game beyond Spartans reach.

The game did hit a slightly sour note later on when some choice comments from the Whitchurch flanker lead to him being instantly dismissed but the Men in Black took advantage of this and went on to reduce the deficit. Substitute Cameron Holland proved that chasing a kick up field is never a lost cause and capitalised on some sloppy play by the Whitchurch backs. Having regained possession he threw an immaculate pass wide to supporting runner Tom Wayne who sprinted the last few yards to beat the last defender and give Spartans a deserved converted score.

Spartans finished the game with their heads held high and, despite losing 10-19, it was impressive to see such a change in performance from the weekend before. Spartans will be hoping for a similar performance but a switch in result when they travel away to Tamworth next weekend.

Match details

Match date

Sat 27 Jan 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Midlands 2 West (North)

League position

1
Whitchurch
3
Spartans (Midlands)
Team overview
Further reading

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