Saturday 17 November 2012
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Minety do their best…
Minety 0pts – Melksham 24pts
Playing with plenty of heart, an understrength Minety managed to restrict Melksham to two tries in each half but were unable to create any scoring opportunities against their in-form opponents.
Stripped of players by injuries and absences, Minety only just managed to field two full sides on Saturday, even dragging coach Huw Jones out of retirement to fulfil the fixtures. The firsts found themselves up against a well-drilled Melksham side full of determined runners and the makeshift Minety back row of Jones, Gethin Roberts and Andew Hibbard played exceptionally well to prevent the visitors piling on a massive score.
Last-minute call-up Cameron Smith also proved invaluable at prop, especially after fellow prop Andy Hurley had to leave the field with a shoulder injury 20 minutes into the first half. Martin Coe, who started at centre and was still recovering from a hamstring injury, moved into the front row and Milo Hartley was drafted in from the middle of the second team game to replace him in the threequarters.
Twelve-nil down at the break, Minety faced an even stiffer challenge playing up hill in the second half. The whole team defended with a will, however. Special mention must go to Dale Langdown, playing at flyhalf for the first time ever and clearing his lines with efficiency and calm, consistently finding touch to relieve the constant pressure on his team.
Melksham battered the Minety line with repeated waves of attack, but for a long time the home team held out, tackling the frustrated visitors to a standstill. Eventually, the dam broke, though, and Melksham secured the two late tries which sealed the win and secured them a bonus point.
After the match, Minety skipper Tom Fitzcharles commented: “Prior to the game, I don’t think any of us thought we had that performance in us. I certainly limped off the pitch proud of each man’s effort and knowing that I could not have asked for any more.”
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