Minety 1st XV v Tadley 1st XV

Saturday 17 April 2010

Southern Counties South

Tadley pass Minety

Minety 1st XV 24 pts – Tadley 1st XV 38 pts

After Minety missed an early penalty attempt, Tadley took over for the next half hour. Twenty minutes in, they created a gap and then slipped the ball out of the tackle to a man running through on the burst. Over he went for the try and a solidly struck conversion made it seven points to the visitors.

Ten minutes later, Tadley were at it again, sending their players looping around the ball carrier to provide support. Eventually Minety ran out of tacklers and their opponents outflanked the defence to score.

Another conversion was followed by a penalty goal, and Tadley had a 17-point lead.

Minety started the second half in the same vein, stealing possession and feeding it to Ward. A half break and a well-timed pass to Sparrow set him away for another try.

A goal from Ward was followed by further pressure and when the ball spilled loose, Sparrow was first to pounce. Tadley scrambled their defence, but not before he’d popped the ball to prop Wes Clamp, who drove over for a try to give Minety a two-point lead.

Tadley’s immediate response was to get their threequarters running again. They generated an overlap and quick hands and great support were enough to baffle the defence, score the try and regain the lead.

Tadley slotted their conversion, but Minety missed with a penalty goal attempt that would have closed the gap.

Refusing to give in, the home side fought back as best they could. A break by flanker Max Smith took him most of the way to the line and winger Andy Troughton was on hand to finish the move with a try.

Many thanks to Andrew “Nocky” Cook for these photographs.