Saturday 15 January 2011
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
First win away
Fairford 7 pts – Minety 1st XV 30 pts
Shaking off the disappointments of the last two months, Minety steamrollered a lively Fairford side with a cracking display of no-nonsense tackling, committed rucking and nimble running rugby.
Winger Piers Dixon was in effervescent form for Minety. Showing terrific pace and ball control, he won a chip and chase down the right flank to score the opening try of the match and followed up with a more conventional try after benefiting from a crisp passing move down the threequarter line.
Not to be left out, Ryan Dowling made an impressive charge down the opposite wing and although he was eventually tackled, he made sure that he offloaded back inside to centre Dale Langdown. Cutting in on the angle, he scooted off for a try under the posts.
An easy conversion plus a penalty goal gave Minety a 20 point lead at the break.
Starting the second half with a bang, Minety turned round an initial Fairford attack and Langdown was soon tearing down the right touchline with no one able to lay a hand on him. Finally brought down just short of the line, he slipped the ball to scrumhalf Andy Brown who swooped over for the try.
Although they had their fair share of the ball, Fairford struggled to make any inroads against Minety’s rush defence. Using their big lock to run at the opposition proved ineffective, but when, mid-way through the half, they established a maul deep in Minety’s 22, flanker Robbie Brown was able to break away and burrow over for a try.
Gavin Wedlake kicked the conversion, but the rest of the game belonged to the visitors. Held up when they mauled over the line, Minety maintained the pressure and a final break by flanker Pete Hazell set up a position from which Dixon could serve prop Martin Coe with a killer pass. Making no mistake, Coe piled over for a try in the corner to close out Minety’s first victory since October, and their first away win in the league this season.
Minety coach Huw Jones was thrilled with his team’s performance. “It was a fantastic team effort. Our rucking was dynamic and the defence superb. Everyone contributed. It’s a victory that sets us up nicely for our double-header against Sutton Benger.”
Minety play the first leg of that double-header this Saturday, away at Sutton Benger.
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