Saturday 23 October 2010
Dorset & Wilts Division 3 North
Cool Hand Luke
Minety 2nd XV 24 pts – Midsomer Norton 4th XV 16 pts
A decisive late try by inside centre Luke Radcliffe sealed another league win for Minety seconds .
Playing down the hill, Minety stormed into an early lead thanks to an opening try from Radcliffe.
This was an exciting game, but one that was marred by outbreaks of tetchiness and ill temper. Both scrumhalves were yellow carded 20 minutes into the match. Minety flyhalf Brendon Rice moved up to take over the scrumhalf’s role, but soon had to leave the field with a broken nose.
When the visitors dropped the ball on their own 10 metre line, Minety number 8 Andrew Hibbard was swift to pounce and hack it on. Harried by opponents, he continued to kick and chase all the way to the line, where he was again first to get to the ball and claim the try.
Two conversions and a penalty goal from Radcliffe gave Minety a solid lead but a try by Midsomer Norton just before the interval made it 17-5 at half-time.
Now with the slope in their favour, the visitors continued their fight back in the second half. A penalty goal and an interception try whittled away at Minety’s lead before a second goal brought the score to 17-16.
With time running out, another score would have given Midsomer Norton the lead and probably the game. Instead, they missed a penalty attempt and when Radcliffe got his hands on the ball, he ran all the way from deep in his own 22, up the slope, to score under the posts at the other end. To settle matters beyond doubt, he then converted his own try to close out the game for Minety.
As yet unbeaten in the league, Minety seconds play away this Saturday in a local derby against Wootton Bassett thirds.
