Saturday 27 April 2013
Nottingham High School 500th Anniversary Celebrations
Minety tourists outpoint Pinks
Nottinghamians Pinks 20pts – Minety RFC 22pts
Minety closed their season with the narrowest of tour victories away in Nottingham against the Pinks, a side consisting of current and former players from Nottinghamians RFC.
Minety travelled to Nottingham to provide the guest opposition in a match to raise funds for the charity CRY, played at Nottinghamians RFC as part of celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of Nottingham High School.
The Pinks got the match off to a flying start as one of their wingers ghosted down the touchline for an early try, leaving Minety flatfooted in his wake.
They then continued to pound the tourists’ try line, but some last ditch defending ensured Minety remained just five points behind.
When the ball eventually went loose in their own 22, Minety grabbed it. Moving it adroitly down the line, they eventually passed it to Dale Langdown, who sprinted over to level the scores.
The Pinks returned to the attack, scoring two further tries before a swashbuckling run by Minety scrumhalf Duncan Simpson broke their defensive line and made space for skipper Tom Fitzcharles to cross the line unopposed.
That made it 15-10 at the break.
Simpson was in action again in the second half, capitalising on a break in his own half by hooker Wes Clamp. A 60 metre sprint took him over for a try, while his successful drop-kicked conversion gave the tourists a two point lead.
With the clock ticking down, the home side regained the lead with an unconverted try, leaving the visitors three points adrift. But, with the last play of the match, Simpson claimed his second try, making it 20-22 in Minety’s favour at the death.