Saturday 19 October
Dorset & Wilts 2nd XV Shield – First Round
Dreamers dig deep
Minety 2nd XV 24pts – Westbury 2nd XV 10pts
Playing without replacements, Minety seconds put in a sterling performance to defend their first innings lead as a determined Westbury fought back after the break.
Playing down hill in the first half, Minety got under way with a catch-and-drive move from an attacking lineout that saw Stacey Skinner touch down for a try.
Morgan Lightbody was next to cross the line before Dellam Murray ran in Minety’s third.
Nick Jones kicked all three conversions before adding a penalty goal late in the half to make it 24-0 at the break.
With the slope in their favour in the second half, Westbury’s big forwards proved hard to stop. Pinning Minety back into their 22, it wasn’t long before their number 8 picked up from the base of a scrum and barged over for a try.
Under pressure but tackling resolutely, Minety held their line until the visitors took clean ball at a five metre lineout and mauled over for their second try.
But after that, Minety returned to the attack, playing intelligent 15-man rugby and keeping Westbury in their own half of the field.
When, with 10 minutes still to play, an injury to Matt Stone reduced Minety’s numbers to 14, the visitors began to make their way down field again, but even then the home defence held firm. Westbury were unable to add to their score and it’s Minety who go through to the next round.