Saturday 26 January 2013
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Snow points for Minety
Marlborough 1st XV 39pts – Minety 1st XV 0pts
Playing on a home pitch still partially covered in snow, Marlborough proved too strong for Minety, though the visitors put up a stout defence.
Minety put themselves under early pressure by spilling a catch from the kick-off but managed to hold out until they forced a turnover which eventually allowed them to clear their lines.
Ten minutes later, though, Marlborough scored a try in the corner after a series of forward-dominated attacks. Kicker Nathan Morgan missed the conversion but his side continued to press, running in a further unconverted try despite the visitors’ determined tackling.
The Minety pack maintained a solid scrum platform and a tidy lineout, their efforts posing the Marlborough jumpers all sorts of problems. Prop Andy Hurley tackled well, there was some tough rucking and scrummaging from Craig Smith and tireless energy from Pete Hazell.
Among the backs, Academy graduate Mike New impressed with a mature display at flyhalf. Jason Cole expertly marshalled the defence and Sparrow provided attacking vision and smart defensive positioning at fullback.
Minety scrumhalf Tom Fitzcharles had a chance to get his side on the board but pushed a penalty goal attempt wide, leaving the score at 10-nil at the break.
The home team continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession and territory in the second half. Minety kept their shape and continued to tackle manfully, but the effort took its toll. In the last quarter of an hour, Marlborough ran in a flurry of tries to make it an emphatic 39-nil at the final whistle.
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