Rushden and Higham 3 Biggleswade 28 Midlands Four East (South) Biggleswade took their first league points of the season with a comfortable win against Rushden and Higham despite another four changes. In recent years they have been a difficult team to bea

Rushden and Higham 3

Biggleswade 28

Midlands Four East (South)

Biggleswade took their first league points of the season with a comfortable win against Rushden and Higham despite another four changes.

In recent years they have been a difficult team to beat, especially away from home, but like Biggleswade they were missing key players.

Biggleswade were forced to reshuffle their side after late drop-outs and the absence of the unavailable James Bakewell and Matt Keen. But the presence of Danny Garden in the centre who agreed to play despite a broken toe was a major influence.

The visitors were playing up the slope in the first half and with the heavens opening as the teams took the pitch, conditions were miserable for the first 20 minutes.

Rushden struck almost at once converting a penalty in front of the posts after an offside decision.

Undaunted, Biggleswade went deep from the restart and a lineout ensued five metres out. In a flicker of an eye Stan Matthews took the tap down and was over the line for a try to give Biggleswade the lead.

Shortly afterwards, Mark Rastrick added a penalty award for dissent against Rushden.

When scrum-half Ross Taylor darted up the blindside for a try Biggleswade stretched their lead with the advantage of the slope still to come.

In the second half Biggleswade went further ahead with another Rastrick penalty.

But the best was still to come. A Rushden supporter rated Biggleswade's front five as the dominant factor in the game, a view underlined when the pack shunted Rushden over the line for a try by number eight Peter Shea.

Shea was also heavily involved in the final try that came after good recycling, a chip and gather by Matthews and a burst through by Shea who fed Taylor for his second try.

Their next league match is at home against the much fancied Peterborough Lions outfit on Saturday, October 14.