Minety 1st XV v Marlborough 1st XV

Saturday 15 November 2014

Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North

Makeshift Minety mauled by Marlborough

Marlborough 1st XV 80pts – Minety 1st XV 0pts

Minety destroyed by Marlborough

Minety’s problems began even before the referee got things underway.  Half the pack were unavailable and Minety started the game with both first choice centres in the forwards and No 8 Andrew Hibbard at loose head prop. Despite this and with over a quarter of the team having made fewer than five 1st team appearances the visitors got stuck in. Their commitment unquestionable as they played the last 40 minutes with 14 men.

Max Smith, standing in at No 8 and playing his last game for the club put in a superb performance to lead in a very in experienced

An early Marlborough penalty was followed by a try after 8 minutes. A continued and sustained reluctance to tackle low and resulted in a further four converted tries before the penny dropped for the visitors. With body angles adjusted the final 10 minutes of the first half was their most effective. They kept Marlborough out and applied some pressure of their own. In spite of this the hosts went into the break 36 – 0 ahead.

Despite the scoreline both sides played to the best of their abilities. But gulf in technical skills, organisation and physical conditioning was the difference.  With both clubs on very different trajectories, Marlborough coach Chris Budgen must be rubbing his hands glee at his player’s enthusiasm to pull on the Marlborough 1st XV jersey. At the other end of the spectrum Minety coach Huw Jones is left scratching his head.