Late heartbreak for Leamington

Leamington let slip a 12-point half-time advantage, with a solitary bonus point providing their only reward for a much-improved showing.

Walsall were the first to show and got on the scoreboard with a penalty before Spa produced a spirited response.

Fly-half Simon Dudley opened the visitors up with a terrific break before slipping a pass to the supporting Matt Cooper, who was able to dot down under the posts. Simon Tyler added the conversion.

This score galvanised Spa who began to play some fine attacking rugby. Dudley, Alan Roberts and Gordon Jackson combined expertly to provide one break, then Simon Magill and fellow wing, Johnny Holland linked cleverly to put more pressure on the visitors.

This latter exchange of play saw Spa attack the Walsall 22 and, as the ball was spread wide, Dudley was able to send Adam Preece in for another try in the corner.

At 12-3 up, Spa were in full control and further underlined their superiority as number eight Mark Roden picked up at the base of the scrum and made good ground. Then Walsall were caught napping as Dudley and Cooper pressed and although the latter touched the ball down, the referee adjudged a knock-on.

A Patrick Northover penalty extended Spa’s lead to 12 points at the break.

Spa returned to the attack after the interval, but were hit with a sucker punch when Walsall snatched the ball and raced upfield to score a converted try.

The game was now on a knife edge, with the visitors looking a different outfit to that of the first half.

Northover eased Leamington nerves with a penalty to make it 18-10, but Walsall scored two converted tries in the dying minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.