Minety started strongly fielding many players looking for revenge after last seasons’ narrow loss. The precision from the Minety backs and the control and power from the pack gave the Minety’s half backs an easy ride. From the kick-off Minety took control of the ball and, in spite of giving away a number of penalties after 5 minutes after Greg Palmer (Tight Head) grounded the ball mistaking the 5m line for the try line, scored a try through Josh Chivers (Hooker), diving through Fairford defenders.
Minety then camped themselves in the Fairford’s 22 for virtually the entire first half yet failed to capitalize on the good positioning. Minety tried and tried, and eventually, with almost 30 minutes gone, Josh Chivers went over for his second try of the game, unfortunately Ben Thomas did not convert from a tricky position and the score remained at 0-10.
Minety’s performance in the first half was not yet reaching its full potential and they continued to concede penalties for silly errors. With only a couple of minutes remaining, quick ball released the backs and Mike New (Inside Centre) crossed the line and that with the first successful conversation of the game Minety were in full control with a 0-17 lead going into half time.
After a brief talk between the coaches and the team, Minety continued to pile pressure onto the Fairford scrum, with the Minety pack playing outstandingly well. The Minety ¾ line were happy to wait for the right to time to attack and use the forwards dominance to gain positioning and territory. Ben Thomas (Scrum half) started the second half rout with a quick dart from the scrum to walk under the posts, this time he was successful with an easy conversion (0-24).
Minety again continued to attack and never gave up despite the convincing score line. From the re-start Jordan Willcock screamed down the wing and only two minutes after the score gave Minety a comfortable lead (0-31).
With 10 minutes gone in the second half, Minety made some wholesale changes, bringing on all of their replacements. These changes didn’t alter the pattern of play with fresh legs giving them a further edge.
The forwards work rate and technique proved too much for Fairford and that gave the Minety backline time and space to search for more points. A well worked blind side move provided Dellam Murray (Flanker) with his first try of the season and Ben Thomas from right on the touchline, floated it through the posts (0-38). Two more quick tries from Josh Bull (0-45) after a formidable catch and run from Tom Windle (Lock) who took the ball from the Minety 10m line to well inside the Fairford 22 before a perfectly timed pass gave Josh an easy run in, and then Jordan Willcock benefited from a fortuitous bounce to gather the ball inside his half and his pace allowed him to skirt the defence and score under the posts with Alex Miriam (Flanker) running alongside him in support (0-52).
The game ended 0-52, a well deserved score line and with many more to come.
Minety Squad
1 Reece Kinnett
2 Josh Chivers
3 Greg Palmer
4 Josh Gainey
5 Tom Windle
6 Dellam Murray
7 Alex Miriam
8 Josh Bull
9 Ben Thomas (C)
10 Jack Cox
11 Jordan Willcock
12 Mike New
13 Sam Johnson
14 Dave Cooke
15 Joby Neal
Replacements
Jim New, replaced Joby Neal; Kieran Evett, replaced Josh Gainey; Ollie Thomas, replaced Jack Cox; and Jack Wallace, replaced Josh Chivers
