Saturday 11 September 2010
Dorset & Wilts Division 1 North
Teamwork
Minety 1st XV 48 pts – Wootton Bassett 2nd XV 15 pts
Minety opened their 40th anniversary season with a fine display of teamwork and running rugby, putting eight tries past their opponents from Wootton Bassett.
On a gloriously sunny September afternoon, it was the visitors who drew first blood thanks to a smartly struck drop-goal from flyhalf Ieuan Clarence.
Bassett’s lead proved short-lived. Securing a steady supply of ball and distributing it even-handedly, Minety attacked on all fronts and it wasn’t long before winger Ryan Dowling was flitting past his opponents for a try, which skipper Jack Ward converted.
This score was soon followed by one on the opposite wing as Russell Barstow sped in for a try.
Centre Robin Greenwood added a third try and when Minety were awarded a penalty on their 10 metre line, they lost no time in taking a tap-and-go. A simple passing move slipped the ball to Dowling again and none of the visitors could catch him as he accelerated out of attempted tackles and ran in Minety’s try number four.
Barstow slotted the conversion and the sides turned round with Minety leading 24-3.
The second half began with Minety mounting steady pressure on the Bassett line. The visitors tackled doggedly but could not prevent Ward from bursting through for a try under the posts.
His conversion of his own try took Minety’s tally to 31 points, but though they returned to the attack, this time they spilled the ball deep in Wootton Bassett’s 22. Clarence was onto it in a trice and showed astonishing acceleration as he jinked and swerved his way through the home team before running the length of the pitch to score.
James Slater kicked the conversion for Bassett, but after that it was Minety on the attack again. Attempting to clear their lines, the visitors only succeeded in kicking the ball straight to Ward, who promptly set his threequarters moving again. This time number 8 Ian Illingworth finished the move, powering over for a try which Ward converted.
Demonstrating that they hadn’t lost sight of traditional Minety values, the home pack executed a catch-and-drive from an attacking lineout, mauling en-masse towards the line. Driving their opponents back, they piled over for a try, lock Mark Holdsworth eventually emerging as the scorer.
Holdsworth scored the next try, too, turning up on the left wing to finish a sequence of steady phases from the forwards and unselfish passing by the backs.
The last word was left to Wootton Bassett’s flyhalf Clarence, who once again showed terrific pace and agility as he sprinted in for a consolation try from 30 metres out.
This Saturday, Minety play at home in the league against Melksham.
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