Under torrential rain, both Minety teams recorded maiden league victories with the 1st XV overwhelming Frome II’s by 67-0 whilst the 2nd XV defeated top of the table Bradford on Avon II’s in a much closer match by 19-12.
The matches were played in driving rain which made handling the ball extremely difficult.
The 1st XV attacked the Frome line from the opening whistle. With the forwards, who have not enjoyed much quality ball thus far this season, on top of their game, the first try came after just 3 minutes when stand in scrum half Jack Ward picked up at a ruck and crashed over from short range. Fly half Tom McAllister’s conversion was successful and the home side led 7-0.
Minety’s second try came in the 8th minute when Ward collected a clearance kick on the half way line and fed centre Dave Church, who ran 40 metres to touch down in the corner. McAllister’s magnificent long range conversion from the touch line took the score to 14-0.
After a brief period of territorial advantage for the visitors, Minety extended their lead to 19 when Ward crossed for a second try after 15 minutes.
The pack, now completely on top, provided quality ball for the pacey Minety backs and they used the opportunities to run the ball at every opportunity.
Centre Matt Roberts scored the 4th try after a fine move involving both forwards and backs which pulled the Frome defence from one side of the pitch to the other. Robert s scored again in the 31st minute, latching on to a Ward pass and running in a try from 30 metres.
On the cusp of half time Minety scored their 6th try when, from deep in his own half, Roberts collected the ball, beat 4 defenders before slipping the ball to prop Will North who fed captain Andrew Hibbard who ran in the try from 25 metres out. Another fine McAllister long range conversion saw the teams turn round with the home side 36-0 up.
Ward scored his hat trick try from close in on 48 minutes and McAllister’s conversion took the lead to 43 points.
The 8th try came when winger Ben Langridge crossed close to the corner flag with McAllister landing a monster conversion from all of 40 metres out.
Hibbard’s 60 metre burst from deep in his own half, blasting through the Frome defence and out pacing their full back resulted in try number 9.
With conditions visibly deteriorating under the driving rain, Minety continued their onslaught, the 10th try coming when prop Gareth Thomas popped up in the line and side stepped his way through to score his first try for the village club.
The final score of the match came in the 70th minute when, after a free flowing move, replacement forward James Stuart burst forward down the left wing, beat one player and delivered a perfectly timed pass to Ward for Minety’s 11th try and a 67-0 victory.
In the other match, Minety’s 2nd XV started strongly against league leaders, and hitherto unbeaten, Bradford on Avon. The home team were pegged back before half time but snatched a brilliant victory with a try in the last 4 minutes to record their first league win of the season 19-12. Captain Matt Stone was delighted with the performance. “That’s a great way to start our season after and I’m really proud of the way that we stood up to a powerful and well organised Bradford team.”
1st team coach Rich Hall was similarly delighted with the way that the 1st XV played. “We executed the moves that we’d practiced in training and were really well disciplined in our game play. We played to our strengths and kept the ball in very difficult conditions.”
Minety 1st XV Man of the Match: Jack Ward, for his four tries and all round game. Forwards Ben Collins and Josh Bull were also picked out for special praise by Hall.