Saturday 19 November 2011
Minety back on song
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Bath Saracens 1st XV 3pts – Minety 1st XV 26pts
Led by club captain Jack Ward, back for his first full game after a year’s break for injury, Minety put in a convincing away performance to dispatch Bath Saracens.
As the hosts were unable to field a front row, the game was played with uncontested scrums throughout. This did not do any favours to Minety, who had travelled with a big front five.
First to settle, Saracens kicked a penalty goal on five minutes after the referee had pinged a Minety flanker for not binding properly at the scrum.
Getting into their stride, the visitors gradually began to dominate and when Saracens threw a loose pass on half way, Minety’s Luke Radcliffe snatched it out the air and evaded all tacklers as he sped in for a try under the posts. An easy conversion for Ryan Dowling made it 3-7.
Playing fluent running rugby, the visitors enjoyed a period of territorial advantage which culminated in an attacking lineout on the 22. The ball went loose, Minety Academician Josh Bull snapped it up and no one could stop him as he charged over for his team’s second try.
The swift pace and untiring fitness of Saracens’ young players put the visitors under pressure in the second half but they tackled well and held their line.
In possession, Minety continued to look dangerous, running well judged lines and providing excellent support. Dale Langdown had a good game on the wing and there were some strong runs from new outside centre Bobby Tilling. Academy player Tom Windle came on for his senior debut in the second half and looked thoroughly at home at this level.
Keeping the ball alive and their opponents guessing, Minety finished the afternoon with a brace of sparkling tries from scrumhalf Tom Fitzcharles.
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