Saturday 12 October 2013
Dorset & Wilts Division 1
Minety defend their lead
Minety 1st XV 26pts – Swindon 2nd XV 5pts
Minety have gone second in the league following a storming first half performance on Saturday which gave them a lead that all Swindon’s later efforts were unable to undo.
The Minety pack got things off to a fine start with a well-worked catch and drive from an attacking lineout. Number 8 Jack ward broke from the back of the maul, rounded the fullback and powered over for the opening try of the game.
Enjoying the lion’s share of the ball throughout the first half, Minety played good running rugby. When Ward picked up from the base of a scrum on the 22 and popped it to winger Elis Garland, he was off like an arrow, flying in for try number two.
Garland also helped set up the third try, flinging a wonderful long pass to fellow winger Duncan Simpson, creating space for him to gallop over the line for the score.
Minety’s fourth try followed a scrum on half way. The ball was spread wide and Simpson his marker winger for dead and scored In the corner.
A penalty goal from centre Luke Radcliffe made it 23-0 at half time.
Swindon came roaring back into the game in the second half, testing Minety’s defence to the limits. The home team held out for 20 minutes before the visitors finally crossed the try line following a lineout catch-and-drive move of their own.
But that was all Swindon could manage. Minety tackled well and played a shrewd tactical game, kicking long and forcing their opponents to attack from deep. Swindon could find no way through and when, late in the game, their frustrations led to infringements, Minety kicked another penalty goal to make it 26-5 at the death.