A game of two halves...
Minety 1st XV 34pts - Calne 1st XV 5pts
Making their best start so far this season, Minety overwhelmed Calne with their pace and power before the interval. The second half was an altogether more frustrating affair in which the visitors scored a consolation try but little else was achieved.
The early stages of the game were marred by injuries to two Minety players. Hooker Andy Moran went down like a sack of coals after banging his head in a three-way collision with other players but after attention managed to get up and resume play. Centre Dave Church was not so lucky and had to be taken to hospital after he tore ligaments and painfully dislocated his shoulder. His place was taken by Will Dyer.
Despite these setbacks, and reversing the trend of recent matches in which they have conceded early penalty goals, Minety got off to a flying start with a penalty goal after less than five minutes of play.
Growing in confidence, they opted to run a subsequent penalty, even though it was in easy range and right in front of goal. The ball was moved right, then quickly recycled after a tackle and passed left down the threequarter line. Dyer took it on the 22 and beat both his own man and the fullback as he scooted his way over for a try.
Winger Ryan Dowling kicked the conversion and then contributed an amazing try of his own, weaving his way past and through half a dozen would-be tacklers as he scampered in for a try from 40 metres out. This time Jack Ward added the conversion.
At this point, the speed of Minety’s recycling, passing and running had Calne constantly on the back foot. When Martin Coe was brought down 10 metres short of the line, his teammates were there in support on the instant to