Hat trick hero, Sam Hughes
2019 has started really well for Minety, as they followed up their impressive victory over Royal Wootton Bassett last week with a crushing 50 -0 win over struggling Supermarine at Minety Fields on Saturday.
Coach Andy Grayson was forced into making 5 changes from last week’s team through injury but used the opportunity to welcome back flanker Kieran Tillotson and full back Matt Roberts, the latter after a long term back injury.
Minety started the match in 7th place in Dorset and Wiltshire Division 1 whilst Supermarine found themselves at the bottom, without a league win to their name this season.
The home team kicked off, playing up the slope, and immediately began playing some of their hallmark rugby, moving the ball swiftly through their mobile forwards to their pacey backs. In the first minute only a fine defensive tackle prevented winger Duncan Simpson from scoring on the left wing.
It took the home side just 2 minutes to register their first try. Scrum half Garin Garland fired the ball to fly half Sam Hughes. The ball went swiftly on, via centre Jack Ward, to Roberts whose pace and guile split the defence wide open allowing winger Chris Rule to score wide on the right.
Chris Rule scores 1st try
Another marvellous run from Roberts, surely the most talented and exciting back in the league when fit, almost set up Hughes and then a break from Number 8 Andrew Hibbard and second row Ben Collins faltered close to the line.
Supermarine, faced with a confident and adventurous Minety, bellied their league position with some excellent tackling and rucking but were always on the back foot. Minety should have increased their lead on several occasions but over-elaborated plays when a simpler option would have been more productive.
Minety’s 2nd try came in the 11th minute. A clever chip by Simpson panicked the defence and from the ensuing scrum Garland found the illusive Hughes who sided stepped his way under the posts for the first of his three tries. Garland converted and Minety were 12 – 0 up.
Sam Hughes crosses for try 2
The third try came straight from the re-start. Prop Mark Glew caught the ball and then a play involving half of the Minety side saw them up to the Supermarine line. When 2nd row Ben Scott was tackled metres from the line, Garland found captain Tom Claxton who set up a ruck and it was Collins who reacted first to pick up and score his 2nd try of the season. Garland’s conversion took Minety to 19 points.
Ben Collins scores try No. 3
Three tries down after 14 minutes would have seen some other clubs buckle under the pressure, but to their credit Supermarine fought back, keeping the ball in tight and denying Minety the space to set up their attacks.
Both Rule and centre Jack Howse probably should have scored before half time but the speed and complexity of the moves led to the ball being lost at the crucial moment with the line beckoning.
When Supermarine did break out of their own half they looked dangerous but superb tackling from Garland, Simpson and Roberts kept them out. The visitors mounted a concerted assault on the Minety line in the closing minutes of the first half but were met with a steely resolve from the home team not to concede any points.
Minety lost combative flanker Jay Thompson to a yellow card early in the second half and then Glew was forced off with a thigh injury, Morgan Aubrey coming on for his 3rd appearance of the season.
Supermarine were reduced to 14 men when their full back saw red after an off the ball incident halted a superb Minety move involving Roberts, Aubrey, Ward and Garland.
Minety’s 4th, and bonus point winning try, came in the 54th minute. After a move broke down in midfield it was Ward who reacted quickest to a loose ball to run in and score under the posts, Garland converting and the home team now in complete control 26-0 up.
Jack Ward beneath the posts for try No. 4
It was Howse who scored the 5th just three minutes later, ending a move across the pitch and beating three defenders to score out wide on the left.
Jack Howse scores No. 5
In the last ten minutes Minety scored three tries. In the 72nd Ward and Aubrey combined to tackle and win the ball on the half way line and when Garland fed Howse his flick pass to Simpson saw the winger streak clear to run half the length of the pitch and score beneath the posts.
Duncan Simpson races in for try No. 6
Hughes added Minety’s 7th, and his second, try in the 76th minute, on hand to collect a pass and scythe through to score near the posts, Garland converting.
Sam Hughes grabs No. 7
In stoppage time the impressive Hughes collected his hat trick. Garland’s tap penalty on the half way line was taken on by Hibbard who passed to Hughes 35 metres out. Somehow the young fly half beat 4 defenders to score a fine try and cap an excellent individual performance.
Sam Hughes caps a fine performance with a hat trick try
Minety almost grabbed a 9th with the final move of the game but Hughes again was denied by a last ditch tackle metres from the line.
Coach Andy Grayson was very pleased with the result. “We set out to deny them any points, and we did, and we wanted to play our expansive game, which we did. We scored some nice tries but we did over play some situations. I know Sam Hughes had a terrific game but my Man of the Match goes to the returning Matt Roberts whose running and tackling was superb throughout.”
Man of the Match: Matt Roberts
Next week Minety make the short journey to Sutton Benger.