Dunstablians ditch Biggleswade to claim friendly win

Having been handed a walkover victory by Dunlop in their Intermediate Cup round two fixture Dunstablians enjoyed a 40-20 friendly victory over near neighbours Biggleswade.

An early season injury crisis had forced Dunlop to pull out, while debutant Jack Bramston scored twice in the win over Biggy.

The Mid Beds side had given Dees a couple of close encounters last season and are currently riding high in Midlands Three East South, the division below Dees.

Three tries in each half saw the home side register a decent home win before a testing few weeks in the league.

Dees coach Dave Marshall gave some of the club’s promising youngsters a run out and they rose to the occasion with impressive displays, particularly Bramston and Harry Barter.

After an even opening 10 minutes, Kevin Boland finally added the spark required to open up Biggleswade’s defence as his 30m break from halfway set up an easy canter in for centre Campbell Haig to stumble his way over the line as Joe Murphy confidently added the conversion.

Biggleswade responded well with a 10-minute period of pressure but, despite some good work by their pack, Dees; defence just about held them out with some dogged tackling and organisation.

Back in the visitors’ 22, Dees charged down a clearance kick as quick running enabled the ball to be moved wide for Bramston to touch down in the right hand corner, with Murphy adding the touchline conversion.

Biggleswade came back strongly as they were able to skip through two last-ditch tackles to score wide on the left.

The visitors’ pack had provided the perfect platform with a series of drives and some slick handling as the tough conversion narrowed the gap to seven points.

Biggy scored another forward dominated try, but Dees finally responded as they extended their lead just before half time.

An attack down the left flank from winger Jordan Warner was policed well and forced infield.

The ensuing ruck was efficiently won and Murphy dummied inside as he evaded the close attentions of a few tacklers to weave his way under the posts before converting himself to make it 21-12 at the break.

The opening ten minutes of the second period was all Biggleswade as they camped themselves in Dees’ half, without being able to deliver the vital blow.

They were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts to narrow the gap to five points as Dunstablians regrouped.

Barter provided the catalyst for Dees’ revival with a pulsating break down the right, only for the hosts to be penalised at the breakdown as Bigglewade cleared their lines.

The next 10 minutes though belonged to the home side as Bramston scythed through the midfield on halfway and turned on the gas to break clear.

He was hauled down 20m out, but quickly recycled enabled Alex Ayres to saunter unopposed to the line, with Murphy converting again as Dees began to turn the screw.

A purple patch yielded two more tries to take the game out of the visitors’ reach as training ground move paid off.

The enterprising fly-half produced a reverse kick over the defensive line that confused all but Warner as he scooped up the ball to score Dees’ fifth try that Murphy again converted.

Midway through the half the game was finally put out of Biggleswade’s reach as Bramston went over for his second try when he finished off a sweeping move in the right hand corner.

Murphy ruined his perfect kicking display as he missed the conversion, but with a 25-point lead Dees had already done enough.

Substitutions for both sides flowed as Toby Mead made his first team debut, and Biggleswade registered a consolation try in the dying minutes to make the final score 40-20.

Dee’s return to Midlands Two East South action on Saturday when they travel Market Harborough.