A season that closed with promotion and took in a European final on the way.
The First XV finished second and went up to Division 4, two years ahead of the club's own target. The Spartans won the Hadrian's Cup in Newcastle, were runners up at the Union Cup in Brussels, held their first women's trial, and spoke publicly after one of their players was attacked on Canal Street.
A season that began with the first league game in September and closed with promotion, with a European final on the way.
The Bingham Cup in Sydney was played from 29 to 31 August 2014, which puts it at the end of the 2013-14 season, and it is recorded there.
League rugby resumed on 13 September with some of the first team still in Australia, and Broughton won the opening fixture 43–17, Carl Helps, Robbie Stone and Joe Crookall scoring and Crookall taking the man of the match award. The first home game a week later brought a 33–29 win over Didsbury Toc H 4XV, with scores from Gareth Longley, Dean Bee, Stone, Helps and Chris Heaton, and the match award to Marlon Morais.
October set the shape of the year. Aldwinians 4XV were beaten 54–5 at home, Dean Bee scoring four tries, Simon Gammon two and Gregory and John Westwood one each, with Andy Smith kicking seven of the eight conversions and Gammon named man of the match. The following week at Eccles 4s the Spartans drew 17–17, two of their tries arriving in the last twelve minutes. League leaders Manchester 3s then won 24–17 at Sale. On 25 October, with vice captain Karl Bee leading the side in place of Dean Bee, the Spartans won 22–10 at Altrincham Kersal 3s in the first league meeting the two Trafford clubs had ever had, Stewart Smith, John Westwood and Simon Gammon scoring and Matt Robinson taking the match award.
From there the scores grew. Burnage were beaten 45–26 at home in November and Tyldesley 3rds 27–15 away. Rochdale went down 43–7, with a hat trick for Simon Gammon. A 36–19 defeat at Bury 3s on 6 December was answered a week later by ten tries and a 64–24 win over Broughton, the side that had taken the opening game; by mid December the Spartans stood third of twelve.
The spring was better still. Aldwinians were beaten 40–0 away in January, Matt Whiteley voted man of the match. In February, Manchester 3XV won the closest game of the season 25–24, a late Spartans penalty to win it falling short. Every result the club recorded after that was a win. Altrincham Kersal were beaten 57–5, and Burnage 50–7 away with four tries for Carl Helps. Tyldesley went down 87–24, with a hat trick for Tom Ormsby. Rochdale were beaten 74–15 away in a meeting of second and third, both clubs on 58 points with three games left. Bury lost 91–10 at home, the Spartans 53–10 up at half time and chasing automatic promotion.
The First XV finished second and went up to Division 4 of the North West Intermediate Leagues. In October the club had set itself the aim of promotion from Division 5 by May 2017; captain Dean Bee noted that it had been done two years ahead of schedule. By the end of the season the club had around thirty regular first team players and a second team playing regular fixtures, where not long before it had struggled to field fifteen.
The second team, captained by Andy Wignall, had ten friendlies arranged before a ball was kicked. It opened on 27 September at Percy Park, where the Newcastle Ravens won 14–0 and a number of Spartans played their first ever game of rugby. Birmingham Bulls won 48–14 at Sale in October. In November Sedgley Park 5ths were beaten 46–24, with three tries for Stew Smith, two for Wiggy and one each for Chris S, Robbie and Jenko, and guest appearances from Jordan of the Kings Cross Steelers and Tom of the Birmingham Bulls. At the end of that month the side played BAE Systems in a fixture to promote diversity in the workplace.
January brought the return with Birmingham, won 26–19 away with a try from the last play of the game. In March Sedgley Park won 50–5, a match that gave debuts to Marc J, Chris W and Felix. Shaun Davies was the season’s second team player of the year.
On 7 March 2015 the club held its first ever women’s team trial at Sale Sports Club, from half past twelve until two, on the same afternoon the First XV played Tyldesley 3rds on the next pitch.
Five weeks later, on 11 April, the club put the whole thing into one day. The women, the old boys and the Second XV opened with a mixed touch tournament of three games from one o’clock; at three the First XV played Bury 3rds in the league; and at half past five the clubhouse held a homecoming reunion, food and drinks and a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
Mixed men’s and women’s touch sessions then ran on through the summer of 2015, outside the September to April league season.
On 28 March the Spartans took a squad of 26 first and second team players to Newcastle for the Hadrian’s Cup, hosted by the Newcastle Ravens. They beat the hosts 28–7 in their opening match and the Kings Cross Steelers 3s 48–0 to win the tournament.
Brussels had been in the diary since September, when the club said it intended to send both squads to the Union Cup in May 2015. Marlon Morais and Dean Bee took names, and a coaching programme covering skills, fitness and strategy was planned for once the league season finished. The touring squad named in the club newsletter was Richard Harrop, James Deponeo, Steve Sharpe, Brett Dawson, Jeff Edwards, Rob Cox, Steve Farmiloe, Dean Bee, Rob Stone, Simon Gammon, Tom Sedgwick, Matt Whiteley, Andy Pope, Andy Wignall, Stew Smith, Brad Allen, Carl Helps, Wayne Eastman, Ryan Hallett, Max McQuirter, Marlon Morais, Chris Heaton, Shaun Davies, James McRobert, Gareth Evans, Sam Tennant, Nathan Prescott, Matt Robinson, Tom Ormsby and James Flannigan.
The party flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and stayed at the Adagio Apartments on Boulevard Anspach in the centre of Brussels, President Dave Brewster sending best wishes to team and supporters from home. The Union Cup, the European championship of gay and inclusive rugby, drew more than twenty teams and as many as a thousand players and supporters to two days of rugby at Bempt Park in Forest.
Drawn with the Lisbon Dark Horses and the Madrid Titanes, the Spartans beat Lisbon 22–7, Steve Sharpe scoring twice and Andrew Pope and Brad Allen once each. The Amsterdam Lowlanders were beaten 34–0 in the quarter final, with three tries for Carl Helps and one each for Chris Heaton, Simon Gammon and Wayne Eastman, and the Kings Cross Mammoths went out in the semi final. In the final a well drilled Kings Cross Steelers won 24–3. The Spartans finished second of more than twenty teams, having played sides from Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam and London; the club’s director of rugby, Neil Mason, had set a top three finish as the target.
Sunday 24 May was the fancy dress day, themed Jilted at the Alter, and around thirty players went out in wedding dresses, wigs and make up in what the club called its most spectacular tour theme since forming in 1998. Everyone flew home on the Monday.
In October 2014 the club published a vision statement with three and five year aims. By May 2017 it wanted the First XV promoted from Division 5 to Division 4, a Union Cup final, a Bingham Cup quarter final and a playing membership above fifty. By May 2020 it wanted the second team in the North West Intermediate league, the Union Cup won, a Bingham Cup semi final and redeveloped facilities at Sale Sports Club. The first two of the three year aims were met before that season was out.
On 1 November one of the club’s players was the victim of a homophobic attack on Canal Street. The Spartans issued a press release on 21 November, with PR spokesman Gareth Longley as the named contact. It recorded that the club had played in the local Manchester league for a decade and been well received by the rugby community in Greater Manchester, and that across its first sixteen years it had worked closely with organisations including the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and the Rugby Football Union to challenge stereotypical attitudes towards LGBT people. On 4 December the club discussed homophobia in rugby union on BBC Radio Manchester alongside Nigel Owens and Bryan Redpath.
The Christmas dinner was held at Taurus on Canal Street on 14 December and drew more than fifty players and supporters. In February the club was back on Canal Street for a kit drive to recruit new male and female players, and expected to appear in Queer Street, a documentary about the street due for broadcast later in 2015. In March several first team players used international tickets obtained through the club’s RFU membership to watch England against Scotland at Twickenham. At the end of May the club’s application to NatWest RugbyForce was successful, and on 28 June members organised by President Dave Brewster painted and decorated the entrance, foyer and toilets of the clubhouse.
The annual dinner on 12 June 2015 made Matthew Robinson player of the year and Richard Harrop players’ player. Simon Gammon took both the supporters’ player of the year and the highest try scorer awards, James McRobert was most improved, Shaun Davies second team player of the year and Andrew Pope collected the Queens Boots. Paul Upham was supporter of the year, Jonathan Edwards took the Chair’s Award, and Neil Mason a special recognition award.
The close season was a busy one. At the Touch My Brum tournament in July the Old Boys squad won the main cup and the New Boys reached the semi-finals of the plate. There was a friendly social fixture against Village Manchester Football Club at Sale Sports Club, photographs with the Rugby World Cup trophy tour at Hough End Playing Fields, and a recruitment social on Canal Street that began at Taurus Bar and Kitchen and moved on to Barpop. The one pre season friendly in the record, ahead of the new campaign, was lost 43–17 at Old Bedians 2s, with tries for Dean, Chris C and Harry on his debut.
The Spartans marched in the Manchester Pride parade at the end of August, an appearance that reached an ITV Granada news report and Gay Star News. On the same weekend club chair Matt Whiteley was interviewed alongside Nigel Owens on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Spartans finished the year a division higher than they had started it, with a European final behind them, a second team playing regularly and a women’s trial held. The three year plan drawn up in October had a good deal of its work already done.
Raging Bull Division 5 East
Finished 2nd, played 18, won 13, drawn 1, lost 4. 18 matches on record. A further 4 fixtures in the division were never arranged. Source: England Rugby competition system.
| # | TEAM | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester 3XV | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 551 | 195 | 356 | 0 | 0 | 69 |
| 2 | Spartans 1XV | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 794 | 296 | 498 | 0 | 0 | 58 |
| 3 | Eccles 4XV | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 459 | 331 | 128 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
| 4 | Rochdale 4XV | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 391 | 508 | -117 | 0 | 0 | 51 |
| 5 | Bury 3XV | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 286 | 468 | -182 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 6 | Altrincham Kersal 3XV | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 331 | 557 | -226 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| 7 | Broughton | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 440 | 488 | -48 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 8 | Aldwinians 4XV | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 391 | 569 | -178 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| 9 | Didsbury Toc H 4XV | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 342 | 442 | -100 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 10 | Tyldesley 3XV | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 310 | 441 | -131 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 11 | Manchester Medics 2XV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 13 Sep 2014 | Broughton | 43 – 17 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 20 Sep 2014 | Spartans 1XV | 33 – 29 | Didsbury Toc H 4XV |
| Saturday, 04 Oct 2014 | Spartans 1XV | 54 – 5 | Aldwinians 4XV |
| Saturday, 11 Oct 2014 | Eccles 4XV | 17 – 17 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 18 Oct 2014 | Spartans 1XV | 17 – 24 | Manchester 3XV |
| Saturday, 25 Oct 2014 | Altrincham Kersal 3XV | 10 – 22 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 15 Nov 2014 | Tyldesley 3XV | 15 – 27 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 22 Nov 2014 | Spartans 1XV | 47 – 7 | Rochdale 4XV |
| Saturday, 06 Dec 2014 | Bury 3XV | 36 – 19 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 13 Dec 2014 | Spartans 1XV | 64 – 24 | Broughton |
| Saturday, 03 Jan 2015 | Didsbury Toc H 4XV | 7 – 38 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 17 Jan 2015 | Aldwinians 4XV | 0 – 40 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 31 Jan 2015 | Spartans 1XV | 66 – 0 | Eccles 4XV |
| Saturday, 07 Feb 2015 | Manchester 3XV | 25 – 24 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 21 Feb 2015 | Spartans 1XV | 57 – 5 | Altrincham Kersal 3XV |
| Saturday, 07 Mar 2015 | Spartans 1XV | 87 – 24 | Tyldesley 3XV |
| Saturday, 21 Mar 2015 | Rochdale 4XV | 15 – 74 | Spartans 1XV |
| Saturday, 11 Apr 2015 | Spartans 1XV | 91 – 10 | Bury 3XV |
Union Cup, Brussels 2015
5 matches on record. Source: the club's own written history of the 2014-15 season.
| Date | Round | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | Pool D | Spartans 1XV | 22 – 7 | Lisbon Dark Horses |
| May 2015 | Pool D | Spartans 1XV | 43 – 7 | Madrid Titanes |
| May 2015 | Union Cup quarter-final | Spartans 1XV | 34 – 0 | Amsterdam Lowlanders |
| May 2015 | Union Cup semi-final | Spartans 1XV | 15 – 7 | Kings Cross Mammoths |
| May 2015 | Union Cup final | Kings Cross Steelers | 24 – 3 | Spartans 1XV |
Friendlies and development fixtures
7 matches on record, 6 of them with a score. Source: the club's own fixture notices, squad lists and match reports on its Facebook page and in its members group.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 27 Sep 2014 | Newcastle Ravens | 14 – 0 | Spartans 2XV |
| Saturday, 18 Oct 2014 | Spartans 2XV | 14 – 48 | Birmingham Bulls |
| Saturday, 08 Nov 2014 | Spartans 2XV | 46 – 24 | Sedgley Park 5XV |
| Saturday, 29 Nov 2014 | BAE Systems | 74 – 5 | Spartans 2XV |
| Saturday, 24 Jan 2015 | Birmingham Bulls | 19 – 26 | Spartans 2XV |
| Saturday, 21 Feb 2015 | Spartans 2XV | Cancelled | Old Bedians 3XV |
| Saturday, 14 Mar 2015 | Sedgley Park 5XV | 50 – 5 | Spartans 2XV |
Presented at the annual dinner on 12 June 2015.
| Team | Award | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| First XV | Player of the Year | Matthew Robinson |
| Second XV | Player of the Year | Shaun Davies |
| Club | Players Player | Richard Harrop |
| Supporters Player of the Year | Simon Gammon | |
| Most Improved | James McRobert | |
| Highest Try Scorer | Simon Gammon | |
| Queens Boots | Andy Pope | |
| Special Recognition | Neil Mason | |
| Supporter of the Year | Paul Upham | |
| Chair's Award | Jonathan Edwards |
| Group | Role | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Committee | Chair | Matt Whiteley |
| Vice Chair | Marlon Morais | |
| President | Dave Brewster | |
| Secretary | Jonathan Edwards | |
| Treasurer | Brett Dawson | |
| Social Secretary | Rob Stone | |
| Recruitment Officer | Andy Smith | |
| Recruitment Officer | Shaun Davies | |
| Rugby | Director of Rugby | Neil Mason |
| First XV Captain | Dean Bee | |
| First XV Vice Captain | Karl Bee | |
| Second XV Captain | Andy Wignall | |
| First XV Coach | Alex Shaw | |
| Second XV Coach | Phil Bowers | |
| Team Manager | Dave Marland | |
| Support | PR Spokesman | Gareth Longley |
| Fixtures Secretary | Simon Gammon | |
| Supporters Secretary | Ianto Morgan | |
| IT and Systems Support | James Hand |
Broughton43 – 17Spartans 1XV
Disappointing loss away to Broughton. Very hard game against some very physical opposition. 17-43 with tries from Helps, Stone and Crookall. Conversion by Smith.
Man of the Match - Joe Crookall!
Spartans 1XV33 – 29Didsbury Toc H 4XV
Excellent result at home today against Didsbury TOC 4XV.
Spartans won 33-29. We dug deep in our own 22 for a large part of the second half with some excellent defence holding up 2 tries!
Well done boys, you've earned a few beers tonight!
Tries from Longley, Bee D., Stone, Helps and Heaton
Spartans 1XV54 – 5Aldwinians 4XV
Great game today for our boys at home where we dominated Aldwinians 4XV. Some excellent work proving what we can do when we have a strong squad and plenty of subs. Very well done boys.
Final score 54-5 with tries from:
Bee D (x4)
Gammon (x2)
Gregory (x1)
Westwood (x1)
7 out of 8 conversions kicked by Smith A!
Eccles 4XV17 – 17Spartans 1XV
One of the great efforts of the season. The tackling was the best of the year so far, especially around the ruck and on the try line, and the side came back a second time at Eccles to take the draw. Many teams would have settled for getting close.
Spartans 1XV17 – 24Manchester 3XV
A tough afternoon of rugby for both the 1st and 2nd teams. Earlier in the day at 1pm the Spartans 2nds kicked off and played the Birmingham Bulls. The Bulls running out convincing winners 48-14. Congratulations to Birmingham on a deserved win. For the inexperienced Spartans 2's the learning continues.
At 3pm the 1sts then played Manchester 3's the league leaders. The Spartans took an early lead 5-0. Manchester struck back to lead 12-5 at the half. In the 2nd half Manchester increased their lead 21-5. The Spartans scored to cut Manchester lead to 21-10. A Manchester penalty seemed to put the game out of the Spartans reach at 24-10, before a late try from the Spartans brought the score to 24-17. Though time ran out and the Spartans could not get closer, Manchester winning 24-17. They were the better side on the day.
Thank you to Birmingham and Manchester for tough competitive games. To the many supporters who turned up to watch both games: thank you! Finally to all the Spartans who played today, well done and thank you for all the effort and hard work you put in. Everyone enjoy the beers tonight.
Altrincham Kersal 3XV10 – 22Spartans 1XV
Well done today boys! Good win away to Altrincham Kersal. Pretty sure the score was 10-22. Spartans dominated in the forwards winning almost every scrum and some good play in the backs. Tries from Stewart Smith, John Westwood and Simon Gammon.
Tyldesley 3XV15 – 27Spartans 1XV
Match report, Tyldesley 3rds v Village Spartans 1sts. Saturday 15th November 2014. The Spartans won 27-15 :)
Spartans 1XV47 – 7Rochdale 4XV
Great afternoon of rugby for the Spartans who hosted Rochdale at home. Final score 43 - 7. Scores from:
Gammon (Chucky) x 3
Stone x 1
Robinson (Noodle) x 1
Smith S x 1
Smith A x 5 Conversions
Smith A x 1 Penalty kick
Bury 3XV36 – 19Spartans 1XV
Match report: Bury 3's v Village Spartans 1's. Saturday 6th December 2014. The Spartans lost 36-19.
Spartans 1XV64 – 24Broughton
Match report: Village Spartans 1 v Broughton 1. Saturday 13th December 2014. The Spartans won 64-24 :)
Didsbury Toc H 4XV7 – 38Spartans 1XV
Great win today away against Didsbury!
7-38!
Tries from:
Carl Helps x 2
Richard "Peppa" McClenaghan-Harrop x 2
Dean Bee x 2
4 out of 6 conversions from Andy Smith!
Aldwinians 4XV0 – 40Spartans 1XV
The best performance of the season so far, in bitter winter conditions. The first half was excellent attacking play and five tries. The second was hard work and determination in defence, and Aldwinians did not score.
Spartans 1XV66 – 0Eccles 4XV
Match report by Neil Mason, published on the club's Pitchero site on 1 February 2015. Kick off 2.15pm, Division 5 East.
In an outstanding team performance the Spartans scored 10 tries and converted 8 to win 66-0.
The Spartans have been chasing second placed Eccles all season in the division following the 17-17 draw away at Eccles last October. This home fixture was an opportunity for the Spartans to close the points gap on Eccles and still have two games in hand. The Spartans worked hard off the pitch in practice on Wednesday to prepare for this key Eccles game with 1st team Coach Alex Shaw.
The Spartans kicked off and immediately spent time in the Eccles half applying pressure. Initially Eccles found it hard to get out of their half as the Spartans pinned them in. From a ruck on the left side the Spartans worked the ball right though the back line where full back Andy R joined the attack and finished off the move to score the first try of the game. Smithy converted, the Spartans led 7-0.
The Spartans continued pressure in the Eccles half led to a ruck turnover in centre field from where inside centre Tom O picked the ball up and broke left cutting through the Eccles defence then passing to winger Carl H who ran the ball in to score. Smithy converted, the Spartans led 14-0.
The Spartans third try came from a well worked line out move where hooker Simon G (Chucky) ended up with the ball, he then ran in the right corner to score. Smithy's conversion just missed, the Spartans now led 19-0. Just before half time the Spartans broke through the Eccles defence outside their own 22. Captain Dean B then set off down the middle of the pitch closely chased by the Eccles cover defence which he held off to score under the posts. Smithy converted, the Spartans led 26-0.
Half time: Village Spartans 26 - 0 Eccles.
The Spartans made two changes at the half. Centre Jon W and 2nd row Jenko coming into the game.
At the start of the second half the Spartans were focused and again scored early through scrum half Andy S (Smithy) who finished off a back line move in the left corner. He missed his own conversion. The Spartans led 31-0.
From this point the Spartans hit overdrive and played some excellent running rugby creating good opportunities to score another 5 tries. Experienced fly half Matt W broke through the centre of the defence and looked round for support which was trying to catch up with him. Matt W carried on and ran the ball in from the half way line with Tom O in support drawing the cover defender away. Smithy converted, the score was now 38-0.
Next to score was winger Carl H scoring his second try of the game after taking a smart off load from hooker Chucky. Carl sprinted down the left wing and touched down for a try. Smithy converted, 45-0 for the Spartans. Centre Tom O then got in the try scoring act himself finishing off a flowing back line move. Smith converted, 52-0 for the Spartans.
Eccles were trying hard and were not giving up. However in today's game the Spartans were in top form. Fly half Matt W again broke through the defence and set off for the try line, in support was Jon W. Matt drew the last defender and passed to Jon who scored the try under the posts. Smithy converted, 59-0. The last try was scored by captain and flanker Dean B, who broke the defensive line and again brushed off the cover defence to score his second try of the game. Smith converted, the score was 66-0. The ref blew for time.
Final score: Village Spartans 66 - 0 Eccles.
Tries for: Andy R, Carl H x 2, Chucky, Dean x 2, Smithy, Matt W, Tom O, Jon W.
The Spartans had expected a humdinger of a game, maybe not quite in this format. Admittedly Eccles did not bring the same strength side they had at home in October, however they are no pushovers and competed all through the game. Eccles are still in 2nd place and contenders to finish in the top 2. This was a game where a lot of the Spartans played well which translated into an excellent team performance, which would not have been possible without the 5 substitutes available to support the team's cause.
Thank you to the many Spartans supporters who turned up to watch.
The Village Spartans, a good place to play rugby.
Manchester 3XV25 – 24Spartans 1XV
A tough loss away to Manchester 3XV in the closest fought game this season 25-24. A very good Spartans performance gave the league leaders a scare today. The Spartans had a penalty kick to win the game with time up which fell just short. All the players can be proud of their efforts and performance in today's game.
Today's man of the match voted by our players is Matt Robinson (Noodles).
Spartans 1XV57 – 5Altrincham Kersal 3XV
Match report from the game on Saturday 21st February. Village Spartans 1's v Altrincham Kersal 3's. The Spartans won 57-5. :)
Rochdale 4XV15 – 74Spartans 1XV
Second half matched the first in terms of Spartans flair and try scoring. Excellent half of rugby with a final score of 15-74.
Second half scores:
Dean score. Kicked. 10-43
Brad score. Kicked. 10-50
Chucky score. Kicked. 10-57
Brett score. Kicked. 10-64
Wiggy score. Not kicked. 10-69
Rochdale score. Not kicked. 15-69
Tom O score. Not kicked. 15-74
Great work boys!
Spartans 1XV91 – 10Bury 3XV
Match report Saturday 11th April 2015. Village Spartans v Bury 3's the Spartans won 91 - 10 :)
Newcastle Ravens14 – 0Spartans 2XV
The second team opened its season away at Percy Park, 1pm, with a squad of twenty travelling and a number of players making their first ever appearance in a rugby match. Newcastle led 7-0 at half time and won 14-0 in what the club called a competitive game with plenty of potential in it.
The club had ten friendlies in the diary for the season and two more under discussion, and said plainly that the aim of the second team was to develop players, with results secondary.
Spartans 2XV14 – 48Birmingham Bulls
At home at 1pm, before the first team played Manchester 3s at 3pm, with Sarge refereeing. Birmingham were convincing winners at 48-14 and the club called it a tough afternoon of rugby for both Spartans sides.
Spartans 2XV46 – 24Sedgley Park 5XV
Set for Sedgley Park but switched to Sale because the hosts had three games at their own ground that day, and moved to a 1pm kick off so the players could watch England against New Zealand afterwards.
Three tries for Stew S, two for Wiggy and one each for Chris S, Robbie and Jenko, with three conversions from Stew, in a 46-24 win. Sedgley Park turned up a few short so the Spartans evened the sides up, which meant every Spartan played the whole game. Jordan of the Kings Cross Steelers and Tom of the Birmingham Bulls guested.
BAE Systems74 – 5Spartans 2XV
Away at Fylde RUFC, 11am, played for BAE Systems' LGBT awareness week as part of the club's work with them on diversity in the workplace. The Spartans lost 74-5, and the club's own report called it a remarkable day on and off the pitch all the same. Players were asked to travel in white shirts and club ties, and a few first team players came along to help the seconds out. Fylde played a National League One fixture after the game.
The club wrote the opponent's name as both BAE Wharton and BAE Systems.
Birmingham Bulls19 – 26Spartans 2XV
Away at Westhill Close in Selly Park, 2.15pm. The Spartans led 12-0 at half time, Birmingham drew level at 19-19 with four minutes to go, and the Spartans went the length of the game's last play to snatch it 26-19. Andy Wignall scored twice and took man of the match in his own captain's performance.
Two club posts and the match report give 26-19. One post the next morning says 24-19, which is the odd one out and is not used here.
Spartans 2XVCancelledOld Bedians 3XV
Cancelled at short notice when Old Bedians could not put three sides out. It would have been a double header at Sale, with the first team playing Altrincham Kersal 3s at 2.15pm.
Sedgley Park 5XV50 – 5Spartans 2XV
Away at 3pm with no first team players in the squad, and lost 50-5. Debuts for Marc J, Chris W and Felix, and Christian's first game at scrum half. The club called it a good afternoon for the development players and thanked Sedgley Park for a game played in the right spirit.
Pool D
Spartans 1XV22 – 7Lisbon Dark Horses
The sixth Union Cup, played in Brussels in May 2015. The touring party of thirty players flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and came home on the Monday. More than twenty teams entered.
The Spartans were drawn with the Lisbon Dark Horses and the Madrid Titanes. Lisbon were beaten 22-7, Steve Sharpe scoring twice and Andrew Pope and Brad Allen once each.
Pool D
Spartans 1XV43 – 7Madrid Titanes
The sixth Union Cup, played in Brussels in May 2015. The touring party of thirty players flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and came home on the Monday. More than twenty teams entered.
The second pool game was won 43-7 against the Madrid Titanes, seven tries and four conversions, with all twenty two of the travelling squad getting on the pitch. The win put the Spartans top of Pool D and into the Union Cup quarter-finals.
Union Cup quarter-final
Spartans 1XV34 – 0Amsterdam Lowlanders
The sixth Union Cup, played in Brussels in May 2015. The touring party of thirty players flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and came home on the Monday. More than twenty teams entered.
The Amsterdam Lowlanders were beaten 34-0, with three tries for Carl Helps and one each for Chris Heaton, Simon Gammon and Wayne Eastman.
Union Cup semi-final
Spartans 1XV15 – 7Kings Cross Mammoths
The sixth Union Cup, played in Brussels in May 2015. The touring party of thirty players flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and came home on the Monday. More than twenty teams entered.
The semi-final was won 15-7 against the Kings Cross Mammoths, three tries to one. Tries from Noodles and Popey put the Spartans 10-7 ahead and the winning score came with three minutes left, sending them through to the final.
Union Cup final
Kings Cross Steelers24 – 3Spartans 1XV
The sixth Union Cup, played in Brussels in May 2015. The touring party of thirty players flew from Manchester to Charleroi on Thursday 21 May and came home on the Monday. More than twenty teams entered.
A well drilled Kings Cross Steelers won the final 24-3. The Spartans finished second of more than twenty teams, having played sides from Lisbon, Madrid, Amsterdam and London. The club's director of rugby, Neil Mason, had set a top three finish as the target.
The Sunday was the fancy dress day, themed Jilted at the Altar, and around thirty players went out in wedding dresses, wigs and make up in what the club called its most spectacular tour theme since forming in 1998.
