Leamington 29 Spartans 12: Smith’s try is a bonus as Leamington continue their rise up the division

A strong, blustery wind did nothing to add to the quality of rugby on show. However, it could not prevent the Spa forwards from putting in another five-star display, which comprehensively snuffed out the Spartans attack.

Spa started the match on the front foot and quickly put pressure on the Spartans defence with a good scrum and pick and run from Peter Blunt.

His partnership with scrum-half Patrick Northover was to be a thorn in the side for Spartans all afternoon and the early pressure was rewarded with a penalty, which Northover spurned in the unhelpful crosswind.

Spartans responded and were unlucky not to score from an interception.

The visitors then missed a penalty attempt of their own but caught Spa cold from the resulting 22m drop out. Spartans claimed possession and sent the ball down the back line, creating the space to score in the corner.

Leamington’s response was immediate with Tom Daplyn opening up the visitors’ defence with a break that resulted in a penalty, effortlessly despatched by Northover.

Spa took the lead four minutes later with a fine passage of play.

Winning a lineout near Spartans’ 22, Craig Smith plucked the ball out of the air and allowed Nick Maxwell the chance to run at the defence, which resulted in a penalty. Northover quickly fed the ball to Danny Ruyssevelt who raced in for the try.

Spa were starting to boss proceedings now with the possession the forwards were providing being used wisely by their backs.

In one forward surge, Danny Phillips crashed through the defence and was unlucky to be held up just short of the line.

This dominance brought further reward, again through some exquisite football.

Spa won the ball at a scrum and Blunt fed Northover whose looping pass was picked up by winger Ryan Byrne, who raced in at the corner. In testing conditions, Northover drove over the conversion attempt.

In the final minutes of the first half Leamington increased their lead with another cleverly engineered score.

Northover, Byrne and Blunt combined to quickly move the ball out wide to Simon Mallard, who had arrived from the opposite wing. He completed this sharp attack by rounding the defence and getting the all-important touchdown.

Northover once again sent over a quite brilliant conversion to give the hosts a 22-5 interval lead.

Spartans had pace in their right wing and used this ploy to test out Spa on a number of occasions in the second period.

However, Spa kept their nerve and put up a stonewall defence.

When Leamington attacked, it was usually the result of a surge from the forwards, with all of the pack working well.

Leamington increased their lead with another well-worked, but this time, individual score.

Spartans lost possession and Craig Smith hacked the ball through and followed up to outstrip the defenders and claim the try.

Northover, in unstoppable form, slotted over the conversion.

Although Spartans did manage a reply late in the game the final score gave Spa the all-important bonus point and saw them move up to third place in this very competitive division.