A sunny day with hardly any wind was ideal conditions for this league fixture against an All Spartans side that had been beaten 0: 70 just after New Year by Melbourne. 

Match Report

The side was slightly different from the team who had played Leesbrook last week with Bob Stowell coming into the front row, Paul Devanney into the centre and Pete Ilott onto the wing. Holidays and International Matches forcing the changes.

The All Spartans XV looked a changed side from who we had played a month ago and seemed very fired up from the kick off. Melbourne were pegged back early on having to defend deep into their own half.

Eventually Melbourne worked their way up the field and from a scrum just inside the A.Spartans half broke blind with Jake Oxspring running the first try of the afternoon under the posts, Euen converting 7:0.

Soon after this from another scrum Oxspring made a break on the blind side, passed inside to the supporting back row who returned the pass inside to Ilott to scamper home under the posts.

Although 14:0 up All Spartans must have felt disappointed as they had done very little wrong and had probably had the better possession of the opening quarter.

They were rewarded for their play when Melbourne tried to clear scrappy ball from inside their own 22 and conceded a scrum 5-yards out, Spartans drove hard at the Melbourne line and eventually their no 8 broke a couple of tackles to score near the posts 14:7.

This was to be the last time All Spartans threatened the Melbourne line again in the 1st half. Melbourne started to spread the play wide to use the pace on the wings this resulted in a flurry of tries before half time, 2 for Ashley Stringer and 1 for Rob Foster, Euen converting all of them to take the lead to 35:7 at the interval.

More of the same was asked for by Captain Barr at half time as this game was far from over. Spartans started the half brightly again and always looked dangerous on the attack with some good breaks from their quick full back and hard drives from their no 8. Good defense from Melbourne always seemed to stop the attacks and turn overs from Macer and Barr putting Melbourne back on the front foot.

Further tries from Stringer and Ilott kept the score ticking on for Melbourne with Euen slotting most of the conversions.

All.Spartans did score again after their full back broke a couple of tackles to break down the wing and cut in to score to the right of the posts. Melbourne players were convinced that the full back was half a yard in touch but the try was given and the conversion un-succefful 54:12.

Straight from the kick off Pete Welsh took out the whole of the team’s frustration at having conceded a try by putting in the tackle of the afternoon and turning over great ball allowing Will Judge to increase his try count for the season.

Must mention the comedy moment of the afternoon when Judgey set the record for the most side steps made by a second row, even opting to run towards the last defender rather than the direct route to the line. When stopped a yard from the line, Judgey turned and saw Macer in support who only had to catch the ball and fall over the line.

Gilbert Rugby Ball £65,

Shirt, shorts, socks and boots £150

The look on Macers face as the ball slipped through his fingers: PRICELESS

Steve Bell and Andy Watts replaced Merv and Matt Brown for the last ten minutes. Melbourne completed the scoring with further tries from Stringer, Ilott and Ian Lucas to leave the final score 73:12

A good result that maybe flattered the Melbourne side as All Spartans never gave up, poor defense was their undoing.

Chesterfield at home next week and then we are really heading towards the crunch matches of the season Buxton, Belper R.R and Uttoxeter in successive weeks.

Link to Photographs by SP Photographics 

What Spartans Said

14 Men Spartans Battle Hard Against Unbeaten Top Of The League

Spartans travelled to Melbourne knowing they were in for a tough time, with the home side sitting comfortably at the top of the league, unbeaten and already having a 70 – 0 demolition against Spartans under the belt along with a host of other easy demolitions of the other teams in Midlands Division 6 East (NW).

Due to injuries Spartans only travelled with 15 men against the impressive Melbourne outfit and after suffering a heavy defeat earlier in the season with a stronger squad, Spartans were fearing the worse, however after a rousing speech before the kick off from Captain Brett Coupe and Coach Arnie Brown, Spartans went out and had a real go at Melbourne from the kick off.

After some good early pressure by Spartans in Melbourne’s half, it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play with 2 counter attacking tries, however Spartans again went back at Melbourne from the kick off and stand in centre and man of the match Lee Watkins didn’t give the Melbourne backs anytime on the ball as he dumped player after player with some crunching tackles, eventually Spartans got a scrum in Melbourne’s 22 and Captain Brett Coupe picked up the ball at the back of the scrum and smashed through a crowd of players to score a trademark try, Dean Freestone converted to make the scores 14 – 7 after 10 minutes.

The Game was now being played at a ferocious pace going from end to end and Spartans nearly got on level terms only for some great last ditch tackles, with the tackles flying in hard and fast Royston Barksby picked up an ankle injury and with Spartans having no substitutes, they had to carry on with 14 men, Melbourne now used the extra man as an overlap and started to score tries in quick succession and took a comfortable lead into half time.

With the game now out of Spartans reach, many teams would have rolled over but Spartans’ never say die approach started to win over, even sections of the home crowd when Royston Barksby came on for another run out, although he only lasted 5 minutes before the pain was too much and Spartans were a man down again, Spartans again were resilient in defence with Man of the match Lee Watkins and Dean Freestone putting in some big hits before full back Jez Cabier scored the try of the match and probably the try of the season for Spartans, he caught the ball in his own 22 before skipping inside and outside of numerous players before scoring under the posts, this brought a protest from the home side as they had never conceded 2 tries in a league game this season and they thought his foot crossed the touchline on his wonder run, and was missed by the touch judge.

However Melbourne did come back with a bite and the scores finally ended 73 – 12, Spartans hope to build on this determined performance which was not reflected in the final score, all in all Spartans travelled to top of the league, played 65 minutes with a man down and still scored more tries than anyone else have against the future champions of the division and came away knowing that they gave it their all.