Newly promoted Pewsey Vale recorded a surprise but well deserved victory in their opening Dorset and Wilts Division 1 encounter away at Minety on Saturday.
On a wet pitch and with a slippery ball, that made handling difficult, the well-disciplined Pewsey pack disrupted the home team’s scrum and made life very difficult at set pieces.
Minety took the lead in the 3rd minute when scrum half Garin Garland slotted home a penalty after Pewsey were penalised for handling in a ruck.
The visitors’ narrow, well drilled game, was better suited to the slippery conditions and with Minety’s lineout misfiring, Pewsey were able to mount a series of forwards’ moves and crossed for the opening try under the posts in the 8th minute. The ensuing conversion took the score to 7 – 3 to the visitors.
Minety responded with some of their best rugby of the match as they fought back with centre Dave Church and fly half Tom McAllister prominent. When winger Ben Langridge charged down a clearance kick it was McAllister who reacted first to race through and touch down under the posts, Garland converting to restore Minety’s lead at 10-7.
Pewsey hit back with a penalty of their own in the 21st minute to even up the scores and then ended the half strongly, a fine forwards’ move seeing them score wide on the right to secure a half time lead, 15-10.
The loss of influential captain Andrew Hibbard and prop Will North at half time led to enforced changes in the Minety pack with new club coach Rich Hall coming off the bench for an unexpected debut.
Minety pressure was met with resolute Pewsey defence and, in the play of the game, Pewsey attacked from their own line, broke through the Minety defence and kicked ahead. In a desperate sprint for the line Langridge was unable to fend off two Pewsey backs and they scored a try against the run of play. The conversion took the lead out to 12 points for the visitors.
Minety pressed hard and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the Pewsey posts in the 58th minute. From the ensuing tap penalty a ruck was set up on the Pewsey line and Garland fed Hall who crashed over for Minety’s second try. Garland’s conversion brought the score back to 17-22 but despite mounting pressure Pewsey held out for a deserved victory.
Coach Richard Hall was reflective after the match. “Of course it’s disappointing to lose a close match like and it being our first match of the season. We didn’t clear our lines well enough, and that led to two of their tries, and we missed too many game line tackles. They’re a well drilled team with a big, strong set of forwards but we felt confident at half time but the breakaway try was decisive. I was pleased to see that heads didn’t drop and that we ended the match strongly. There’s real potential here at Minety – we just need to work harder to unlock it.”
The 2nd XV’s match against Warminster II’s was cancelled at late notice with the visitors unable to field a full team. Minety have been awarded the league points.