Saturday 5 December 2009
Dorset & Wilts Division 2 North
Reduced seconds stage rearguard action
Minety 2nd XV 3pts – Fairford 20pts
A reduced Minety seconds contained visitors Fairford to the best of their ability, losing 3-20 but maintaining their self-respect.
Having lent all the players they could spare to the first team, Minety seconds started with only 14 men. With Fairford coming at them down the slope in the first half, defence was key and the home team’s fortunes mixed. Airline pilot Tim Vaughan arrived from Heathrow after 10 minutes and brought them up to strength, but injuries to skipper Steve Murray and flyhalf James Tweedale severely limited those players’ effectiveness. Both stayed on the field, and solid tackling held the visitors to a seven-point lead at the break.
Although better resourced, Fairford could only add one more try in the second half, with two penalty goals bringing their tally up to 20 points. Defending stoutly, Minety’s only score was a penalty goal from Andy Edwards.
The home team’s man of the match was 17-year-old Daniel Sheppard, who excelled himself in a difficult game.
This Saturday, Minety seconds travel away to take on the Swindon College Old Boys 2nd XV.