New club coach Richard Hall declared himself more than happy with Minety’s nine try, 53-7 victory in a pre season friendly match played against Cainscross from Gloucestershire.
The visitors took a surprise lead with a break away try in the first 5 minutes but from then on a powerful Minety team, made up of predominantly 2nd team players and some 1st teamers playing out of position, took over and ran in nine tries including braces for flanker Harry Neal and 1st team skipper Andrew Hibbard.
“It was a bit messy at times and there was evidence of pre season rustiness but overall I was very happy with the way that the lads played and the spirit that they showed,” said Hall after the match.
The match gave the coaching staff a good chance to look at the depth of the Minety squad as they prepare for their first match of the Dorset and Wilts Division 1 North championship in two weeks’ time. “We’ll need to sharpen up our set pieces and make sure that our ruck ball is won cleanly and quickly. I’d like to see the backs running from deeper positions but I feel confident about the coming season. I definitely feel that we’ve got the players here at Minety to win the league, assuming that we can always put out our strongest team.”
Hall started his playing days with Bath Colts before moving on to Gloucester, where he played at the highest level. An injury curtailed his top level career but he moved to Minety before retiring and taking up coaching. “Minety has changed beyond belief since I played here. The support that the players and coaches receive from the committee and the back room staff is immense and I’m delighted to be back at a club which holds such happy memories for me.”
Minety 1st start their league campaign with a home match against Pewsey Vale on 10th September. The 2nds begins their D&W3N season at Minety Fields with a home fixture on the same day.
Try scorers: Harry Neal (2), Andrew Hibbard (2), Tom Windle, Dan Wilson, Richard Hibbard, Duncan Simpson and Garin Garland.
New Minety Coach, Richard Hall