Saturday 7 January 2012
Minety eventually remember
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Minety 1st XV 34pts – Trowbridge 2nd XV 3pts
After an indifferent first half, Minety came good after the break and clocked up six tries for a bonus point win over Trowbridge seconds.
Evidence suggests that the Christmas and New Year break is just long enough for most rugby players to completely forget how the game is played. The first half at Minety on Saturday certainly lent weight to the theory. The home pack put on a nice shove to maul prop Andy Hurley over the line for an early try and a break soon after by centre Luke Radcliffe was capped by a neat chip and chase from fullback Tom Fitzcharles for a second try to Minety.
After that, though, the game degenerated into stalemate. The residents constantly gave away the ball while the visitors demonstrated that they had little idea what to do with it. The only positive was that Minety tackled well. Trowbridge kicked a penalty but never looked like scoring again.
“Plenty of endeavour, precious little skill,” was how one participant put it at the break.
Stirred by coach Huw Jones’ half-time pep talk and with the score at 10-3, Minety started the second half with a new level of energy and team work. Finally remembering how these things are done, they charged down the hill and retained possession through a series of short, snappy phases before prop Martin Coe took quick ball from the ruck and smashed through for a try by the corner flag.
Successive darting runs by winger Dale Langdown set up the next try. Trowbridge gave away a penalty in trying to hold their line and a quick tap-and-go sent flanker Gareth Peirce over for the score.
Skipper Jack Ward posted the conversion before Radcliffe stormed through the visitors’ defence for an outstanding individual try.
Number 8 Andrew Hibbard was also in ebullient form, and it was his run off the back of a five metre scrum which gave Minety their sixth try of the afternoon.
On a muddy day when kicking was uncertain work, flyhalf Phillip Stephens’ final conversion attempt was a good one, giving the home team a satisfying 34-3 margin of victory.
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