Minety 1st XV v Calne 1st XV
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Minety start off in style
Minety 1st XV 33pts – Calne 1st XV 12 pts
Skipper Tom Fitzcharles gives his report on the game:
We outscored Calne 5 tries to 2 to win 33-12. We started going up the slight slope with bright sunlight in our eyes and for most of the first half had to contend with a constant attack from their large ball carriers. However, we defended well and organisation was excellent, but after about 20 minutes one one of their players broke through and crossed for the first try of the game which they converted. Although we had some possession and twice broke clear from our half, attacking the Calne try line, a combination of poor accuracy and scrambling defence kept us from registering any score. After a half time team talk from Huw and a reminder for ourselves to stay patient and trust that our defensive efforts would pay off in the next 40 minutes, we were rewarded shortly afterwards with a few quick phases, working the ball wide and keeping it alive with some great footwork from Dale Langdown and Robin Greenway and superb link play from Sam Miller. The first try (I think) came from some promising possession retention from which Luke Radcliffe broke through some feeble tackles to score under the posts, which he duly converted. The rest of the half was almost entirely Minety’s with some well-worked phases going through both forwards and backs. An inspired tactical change from Huw shifted Dave Church back to full back with Tom Fitzcharles slotting into the centres, interchanging with Radcliffe depending on attacking territorial positions. Some clever tactical kicking from Phil Stephens kept the pressure on the Calne back line. After one well-chased Stephens kick was hacked back into the Minety half from the Calne fullback, Dave Church set off on a typically bullish run from deep, swatting away a number of would-be tackles before being brought down. A quick turnover found its way into the hands of Phil Stephens, whose fast feet created enough space to round a couple more Calne defenders and cross the line for another score. Radcliffe again converted successfully.
