THIS was the final nail in the coffin for relegated Biggleswade Rugby Club. The gulf between top and bottom in the league was clear in Saturday s game although Biggleswade rallied in the second half after being 40 points down by half-time. Once again Bigg

THIS was the final nail in the coffin for relegated Biggleswade Rugby Club.

The gulf between top and bottom in the league was clear in Saturday's game although Biggleswade rallied in the second half after being 40 points down by half-time.

Once again Biggleswade were forced to reshuffle their side.

But the selection of South African Albert Pretorius and fireman James Buttigieg in the back row made a big difference to the pack's mobility.

Martin Peace played prop and it shows his versatility as he has also played on the wing for the side.

It did not take long for BBOB who are second in the league to get into their stride.

They were three tries up within a quarter of an hour. The support play in attack was reminiscent of Biggleswade in their heyday. Passes were flipped out to right or left and there was always someone there to take them.

Biggleswade's international Peter Shea admitted to being shellshocked. "It was one tackle after another and still there were hordes of them!" he said after the game.

But in the second half the torrent of tries slowed to just a trickle as BBOB rested players for their Sunday match and Biggleswade played with even more guts and resolve.

Biggleswade's only chances of a score were a long range penalty kick that went wide and break from the 22 by Tom O'Connor.

O'Connor worked hard at scrum-half to replace the injured Ross Taylor. But asking him to run 70m after a break out from near his own posts was just too much.

Biggleswade entertain Oadby-Wyggestonians this Saturday.

Oadby are third from bottom and struggling so a good result is possible with pride now the only thing to play for. The match at Langford Road has a 3pm kick-off.

* Biggleswade Rugby Club are organising one of the biggest youth rugby tournaments in the area this weekend.

The Langford Road based club are hosting the Bedfordshire festival for under-sevens, eights and nines this Sunday.

This festival will cater for more than 300 players from all over Beds and surrounding counties.

Organiser Darin Cleverly said: "We are hoping that all of the players have a great time and enjoy the day."

The club have arranged lunches for all the players and club sponsor Wells and Young are bringing their hospitality bus along. Play will begin at 10am.

This is a busy time for the Biggleswade club as they recently stepped in to save two regional competitions from cancellation.

The East Midlands under-15s tournament and under-11s 'Mobbs' tournament were going to be off but the club offered their pitches in place of the clubs whose grounds were waterlogged.

Biggleswade also host the Beds under-14s and under-16s county cup finals on Sunday, March 25.

Club chairman John Thoday added: "We have some of the best playing surfaces in the area and felt that we should step in to help, where other clubs were unable to."

* The two Biggleswade teams were meeting last night (Wednesday) in the North Beds Charity Cup.

Biggleswade Town shared a goalless draw with high-flying Hertford on Saturday.

But inconsistent Biggleswade United were beaten 5-3 at Aylesbury Vale.

With both sides depleted, United were three goals down just after the break before Robbie O'Dell scored from the penalty spot after Rhys Cannella was tripped.

Vale made it 4-1 before a screamer from O'Dell got United on the scoresheet once again.

Nick Stillwell scored the last goal of the afternoon but there was more bad news with a serious injury to skipper Gary Jackson.