Minety Rugby Football Club
2007-08 season Home + Fixtures + Directions + Players + Gallery + Events + Youth
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Christmas cracker
Minety 1st XV 24pts - Cooper Avon Tyres 1st XV 12pts
There were plenty of fireworks when Cooper Avon Tyres visited league leaders Minety for a pre-Christmas showdown.
On an icy afternoon, the Minety pack were first into their
stride, running the ball from half-way. Their brisk interpassing
baffled the visitors and lock Chris Hazell surged over for a try.
Cooper Avon struck back with a chip over the top and a dash for the
line. First to the ball, they touched down for a try and then drew
narrowly ahead by slotting the conversion.
Gathering clean lineout ball, the home team recaptured the lead with a
forward drive that propelled hooker Andy Moran over for a try.
When Minety skipper Martin Coe opted to chase a kick ahead in Cooper
Avon’s 22, he was winning the race to reach the ball until a
shove from an opponent prevented him from touching down. The referee,
who was on the spot, had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and
Ryan Dowling’s conversion soon made it a seven-pointer.
Cooper Avon responded with their best passage of play, running the ball
at pace and moving it wide. Their winger took the final pass and belted
in for a try in the corner.
The sides turned round at 17-12 but though Cooper Avon started the
second half brightly, they had no answer to the power of the Minety
pack who repeatedly drove them back in the scrums. Trying to move the
ball round the fringes, the visitors found themselves engulfed by the
opposing back-row.
The decisive moment came when Minety flyhalf Will Dyer intercepted an
opponent’s pass and sprinted away. He was stopped after 30 metres
but Arran Lightfoot took his the pass at full tilt and steamed on for a
try.
Dowling’s successful conversion put his team out of Cooper
Avon’s reach. Minety might have added to their score when the
visitors were penalised for dissension but though they missed the goal,
they never relinquished their control of the game.