Saturday 9 October 2010
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
A bad day in Sutton Benger
MATCH ABANDONED (50 minutes)
Sutton Benger 1st XV 12 pts – Minety 1st XV 0 pts
Sutton Benger were leading by 12 points to nil when this game was brought to an unscheduled halt after 50 minutes by a serious injury to Minety flanker Charlie Gawthropp.
The Minety pack played well, securing a steady supply of ball for the 50 minutes that this game lasted. The front row of Richard Haynes, Wes Clamp and Martin Coe were in fine form in the scrums, while lock David Hazell once again dominated the lineouts. His fellow lock Craig Smith was everywhere, and tackled superbly. The back row were also in good shape, with number 8 Pete Hazell particularly in evidence around the field.
All was not so well among the backs, however. Although there was no shortage of effort or commitment, they could find no way of turning their ample share of possession into points. Their play lacked variety, precision and guile and their able opposite numbers had no difficulty in closing them down.
Tackling consistently and biding their time, Sutton Benger waited patiently until a couple of scoring opportunities finally came their way late in the first half, and then seized both of them. Well timed and angled runs by Mark Carter and Jordan Bayliss allowed them to ghost through for a try apiece, with flyhalf Matt Johns kicking a conversion to give the home team a 12 point lead.
When Gawthropp got caught at the bottom of a pile-up early in the second half, the referee blew up straight away and immediately called for an ambulance. The match was abandoned and will have to be replayed.
A former club captain and an expert blind-side flanker, Gawthropp, 39, was playing as well as ever this season. His injury, a badly broken left ankle, brings an accomplished playing career to an end and Minety will sorely miss his strength and experience as they travel away for a cup game against Puddletown this Saturday.