Royal Agricultural University win Minety 7’s

The Royal Agricultural University team won the Minety 7’s rugby tournament at Minety Fields on Saturday afternoon.

12 teams, divided into two pools, contested the competition in startlingly contrasting conditions. A large crowd, enjoying a refreshments tent, barbeque, bouncy castle and other attractions were entertained by the action on the two adjacent pitches under brilliant sunshine until the thunder clouds massed and the semi finals and final were concluded in torrential rain.

The hosts, Minety, got off to a flying start with a 31-0 win over Painswick before St Paul’s Sharks battled out a 12 all draw with Tetbury. The “Voodoo” touring team ended the first round of matches in Pool 1 with a comprehensive win over a team representing the “Weighbridge” from Swindon. Ashley Windle, the Weighbridge’s coach was philosophical about the defeat. “I thought we were unlucky; we just didn’t get the bounce of the ball.”

In Pool 2 Minety’s 2nd XV, “The Dreamers” found themselves on the wrong end of a 40-0 at the hands of the Parachute Training School from RAF Brize Norton. The “Magic” team defeated a young Chippenham team 30-0 before the Royal Agricultural team defeated the Minety Academy.

As the tournament developed, in hot and humid conditions on very firm pitches, the favourites began to make their presence felt. St Paul’s Sharks followed their opening win with a heavy defeat of the Weighbridge team before cementing their place in the semi finals with a fine 14-0 win over Voodoo. They guaranteed top spot with a close win over Minety in the last pool 1 game in which the hosts also qualifying for a semi final spot.

Pool 2 saw the Physical Training Instructors from Brize Norton breeze past the Magic team to set up a top of the table clash with the unbeaten Royal Agriculture University team in the last match of the qualifiers.

As the rain clouds massed and thunder rumbled all around, the RAU team showed their class, mastering the changing conditions and inflicting the Instructors first defeat of the day.

In the “Oh So Nearly Cup” Minety Academy lost out in the pouring rain to the “Voodoo” touring team.

The main competition semi finals saw the home team facing the unbeaten RAU team whilst the PTI’s took on St Paul’s Sharks. With the crowd seeking any form of shelter from the driving rain the Royal Agricultural team were too strong for a Minety team whilst the PTS’s from Brize Norton saw off St Paul’s.

The final went the way of the RAU who closed down the PTS’s for space when defending and threw the ball wide on the attack.

Tournament organiser Jack Ward handed over the winning trophy to the RAU team. He said, “It’s been a great day but just a shame about the thunderstorm at the end. I think everyone’s enjoyed themselves and it’s been a great way to end what has been a tremendous year for the Minety Club.”

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