Dorset & Wilts Division 1
North
Marlborough 1st XV 21pts - Minety 1st XV 5pts
All photographs on this page by Terry Parker courtesy of the Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard
Minety
lost their third league game of the season and with it their lead in
Dorset and Wilts Division 1 North as a makeshift line-up failed to make
any impression against a well-organised Marlborough XV.
While Minety benefited from the
welcome return of skipper Martin Coe and their long-absent former
scrumhalf Max Sparrow, the side they put out at Marlborough had an
improvised air to it. An extensive injury list meant a long list of
absences, while many of those on the field were forced to play out of
position. Everyone put in a huge effort, but the team lacked
organisation and tactical authority.
The home side, in contrast, looked
purposeful from the start and had a clear idea as to how to play in the
utterly miserable conditions. Playing down the hill, Marlborough
threatened from the kick-off and twice came close to scoring in the
early encounters. Minety tackled brilliantly and their players threw
themselves into the fray but, as last week, they found it difficult to
make consistent ground.
After a long period of pressure,
Marlborough finally piled over for a try after half an hour and though
the conversion attempt failed, a penalty for offside on the stroke of
half-time gave them a chance to add another three points, making it
8-nil at the interval.
Despite the favour of the slope,
Minety still found it hard to run the ball in the second half.
Marlborough scored another short-range try after 20 minutes, the man
with the ball ghosting through the defence without a hand being laid on
him. The conversion was good, as was the penalty goal that followed
shortly after.
With five minutes left, the visitors
managed a consolation score by driving over a maul from 20 metres out
with hooker Andy Moran grounding the ball for the try. But even then,
the hosts had the last word, posting a late penalty goal to further
stretch their winning margin.
Minety's next league game is at home to Cricklade in two weeks' time ( Saturday 12 April).