Saturday 16 April 2011
Dorset & Wilts Division 3 North
Devizes dominate
Devizes 3rd XV 37 pts – Minety 2nd XV 12 pts
Minety finished the first half ahead by the narrowest of margins, but when the big men of Devizes turned on the power after the break, the visitors were left firmly in second place.
Minety started well and pinned their opponents back in their own 22 for the first quarter of an hour before Luke Radcliffe broke through for the opening try of the game.
Andy Edwards’ successful goal kick made it a seven-pointer, but Devizes fought back strongly. Stout defending from the visitors prevented them from scoring any tries, but two Devizes penalty goals cut Minety’s lead to a single point at the break.
Continuing as they had left off, Devizes dominated the third quarter of the game. They ran in three tries, all of which were converted by their number 13, who kicked conversions from all angles and a penalty goal “to boot”.
Minety’s consolation try came late in the game when the Devizes fullback failed to gather a kick ahead. Radcliff took it on the bounce and almost made it to the line before being brought down. Running on to a popped pass, Andy Brown touched the ball for the score.
Team manager Steve Murray awarded Radcliffe Minety’s Man of the Match award for his running, kicking and try-saving tackle of a Devizes forward.
Minety ended a successful season in fourth place in the table, tied on points with Devizes who pipped them for third place with a better points difference for and against.
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